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Be sure to listen to the
She’s Got It Together Podcast!
Hey everyone, it’s Jessica here with my sister/co-host Sam for another episode of our podcast! Today we’re diving into the world of sibling relationships – the good, the bad, and everything in between. As an older sister to twin sisters with a big age gap between us, I’ve definitely experienced my fair share of sibling challenges over the years.
One key component of a strong sibling bond that Sam and I discussed is balance, which can be tough with a significant age difference. When the twins were born, I was already heading into my pre-teen years. It was a busy season of life for me personally, but I also loved being able to help out with the babies. Luckily, our grandma was great about making sure I got some special one-on-one time with her so I didn’t feel forgotten amidst all the excitement.
As the twins got a bit older, around 5 or 6, that’s when the real clashing began – I was a teenager who wanted space and they were all up in my business wanting to play 24/7. Classic sibling struggles! But even with the 8 year gap, we still found ways to bond, like when they’d stay over at my apartment and we’d dye hair (with some mixed results – sorry about those tiger stripes, Sam!).
Sam made a great point about how important that unstructured play time is for siblings to work out conflicts together. With so much technology these days, kids are missing out on those organic opportunities to problem-solve with each other. It really lays the foundation for navigating relationships as you get older.
Looking back, I’m grateful our parents made an effort to let the twins develop their own interests and identities, rather than always lumping them together as a unit. Fostering that individuality is so important. At the same time, having a built-in best friend to tackle milestones like starting college with is pretty special too.
Sam and I also got into how parents can guide siblings through conflicts without totally taking over. Giving kids tools to express their feelings and work towards a solution that satisfies everyone (even if it’s not what you as the parent would choose) is key. And sometimes you’ve gotta get creative, like the time I stuck my bickering daughters in one big t-shirt until they could work it out!
We covered a lot of ground in this episode and I’m sure we still only scratched the surface of sibling dynamics. But the main takeaway is that while having brothers and sisters isn’t always easy, putting in the work to maintain those bonds is so worth it in the end. And on that note, go hug your sibling! (But like, ask first – we’re not a super touchy-feely family over here.)
Thanks for listening and be sure to tune in next week for more sisterly shenanigans!
