Growing up as a younger sister has certainly taught me a lot of things. While my sister begged my mom to "put me back" on the day I was born because I wouldn't stop screaming, I'm sure she would agree that I've taught her a lot of things as well. I'm sure anyone with a sibling will tell you, while they some days may wish they were an only child, they would not give up their brother or sister for the world. While I don't know what it is like to have a brother, I certainly can tell you what being a sister has taught me.
1. How to deal with competition
With any set of siblings comes sibling rivalry. My sister and I are four years apart so I was always trying to keep up with her and her friends. My parents joke that I started walking at 9 months so I could keep up with her. Anyway, growing up I remember anything my sister would not do, I would just to try and out do her. This worked in both ways though because my older sister did not want to be shown up by me. Either way, I was trained from birth to be competitive, whether that is a good or bad thing is yet to be determined.
2. The art of sharing
I'm sure this could also apply to all siblings but especially sisters. Growing up if we both could not have our own of something, we had to share it. Of course this lead to a series of arguments over whose half of the candy bar was bigger, who's turn it was to pick the movie, and who ate more of the bowl of popcorn. However, overall having a sister showed me how to be a caring individual and always share with the people around me...just of course not the bigger piece.
3. How to keep secrets
Perhaps one of the most important lessons learned by being a sister. Between "You better not tell mom!" about things like punches, hair pulls and accidentally saying "bad" words. To actual secrets you can only trust your siblings with, being a sister has certainly taught me how to and who I can confide in. As well as how to hold a secret to my grave if I should need to.
4. You really have two closets
Growing up my sister and I never wanted to share clothes or dress similarly at all but thank god that's changed. Ever since we reached adulthood we could care less about each other borrowing clothes as long as the three rules are followed. 1. You bring it back, 2. You damage it, you're buying me a new one, 3. I have to have worn it before you get to,
5. You have a built in best friend
I never have to worry about picking one of my best friends to be my maid of honor. That was decided for me the minute I was born and became the little sister. You also always have a built-in riding partner at amusement parks, someone to hang out with at family dinners, and someone to drag shopping with you.
While there is certainly more than 5 things that being a sister has taught me, I would be here forever writing them out. I'm sure my sister could add more to this list or even to the ones I have listed. I guess we will see how much she agrees with these ones once this article is published.
