Siblings

One of the best things about siblings is that from the moment you are born you have instant friends. You may not always realize you are friends, but in the end siblings really are the people that know you the best.  Who else understands the pains of growing up wearing homemade underwear, getting fined for talking back to your parents, or how much you hated getting up early every day in the summer to do yard work?  Who else remembers the excitement of Christmas mornings (even on years when most of your gifts may have come from the thrift store) and also knows the rules to your own modified versions of games like tag or hide and seek?

My older siblings (Sarah, me, David, Rebecca)

Siblings are the ones who have sat through miles of road trips with you, singing “My Dame had a Lame Tame Crane”.  They know all your deepest secrets, like the fact that just maybe you had to sleep on your parents’ floor until you were thirteen years old.  And while your siblings can tease you relentlessly about things like this, if anyone else teases you they had better watch out.  Because even though he’s only in first grade, your little brother will beat up the third grade boy that chases you at recess calling you “Red Rooster”. 



My favorite playmates (Matt, Dan, me)



If you are lucky enough to have siblings quite a bit younger than you, you get lots of good practice with kids so that you aren’t terrified of changing a diaper when you become a parent.  These siblings are the best self-esteem boost because they look up to you and think you are cool just because you can drive a car and take them to get an ice cream cone.  They also make it possible for you to prolong the fun of childhood.  When you are too old to go trick-or-treating, you still get to go collect free candy, because after all, someone has to take the little kids.

My three little buddies (Top: Jacob & Me, Bottom: Me, Rachel, & Anna) 

Despite having seen you at your best and worst moments, somehow siblings are the ones who end up loving you through it all.  While growing up, there are days you think you can’t wait to move out and be on your own.  Then when that day finally comes, you find you actually miss those crazy siblings and get excited when family get togethers approach. It is great to be with people who know almost everything about you and laugh together about the good old days growing up.  You sometimes even find yourself reverting back to your childhood roles and some of you might gang up on a sister to throw her in a lake (only now you are mature enough to at least give her a life jacket first).  It is then you realize that not only are these people your family, they are also your best friends. 

-Elizabeth