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Siblings

8 Big Things My Little Sister Has Taught Me

"Sisters never quite forgive each other for what happened when they were 5." — Pam Brown

Amanda Topolski

Apr 16, 2019

The University of Alabama

1605

8 Big Things My Little Sister Has Taught Me

Nancy Topolski

On the day that my little sister was born, I gained a best friend for life. I gained a girl who I will fight with one minute and laugh with the next minute for the rest of my life. As the big sister, I always felt like I was the one who had to set the best example for her and to teach her.

My little sister, however, has taught me so many big lessons in the past 17 years.

1. Loving others

Loving my little sister is different than loving anyone else in my life. When I already thought that my life was complete, my little sister was born and I realized how wrong I was. I held that little human in my arms and I realized, in that moment, that I wanted to be the best role model possible. Even when we are both fighting and getting on each other's nerves, we may not like each other, but we do love each other.

2. Loving myself

Self-love is something that I have struggled with for a few years, especially since my eating disorder. My little sister helped show me that my poochy is cute and that my worth is not dependent on the size of my jeans and that it is OK to down a cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate shake.

3. Having patience

My little sister knows how to walk along the very thin line that is my patience. She knows just the right ways to get underneath my skin. She knows just the right things to say to get a rise out of me. I honestly think that testing my patience is one of her favorite past times.

4. Being stealthy

Having a sister who is the same size as me, I have learned to be very sneaky in order to "borrow" any and all cute clothing that she owns. OK, maybe not very sneaky, but I can get away with it at least 50% of the time.

5. Making sacrifices

OK, sacrifices may be a little bit too intense of a word. What I mean is that I have learned what it is like to give-in for the happiness of others. Whether it be choosing a restaurant for dinner or a movie to choose from RedBox, I have learned what it is like to not always get my first choice, and that is OK.

6. Being overly protective

If someone treats me poorly, I can usually get over it. If someone treats my little sister poorly, however, that is a different story. My little sister deserves respect in life; she does not deserve to be treated unfairly or walked over. As her big sister, it is my job to make sure that she is treated properly.

7. Forgiving and forgetting

Girls can hold grudges forever. I remember people who did me wrong all the way back in elementary school. When it comes to fighting with my little sister, though, we can argue one moment and be laughing at and inside joke the next. My little sister helped teach me that sometimes, the best thing to do is move on in life so that you do not miss out on fantabulous memories.

8. Doing makeup

This may seem trivial compared to everything else above, but my sister really improved my makeup game. I went from relatively intense eyeliner and unblended eyeshadow to subtle makeup highlighting my best features.

Having a little sister has changed my life in so many beautiful ways. I cannot imagine my life without her.

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8 Big Things My Little Sister Has Taught Me

"Sisters never quite forgive each other for what happened when they were 5." — Pam Brown

1. Loving others

2. Loving myself

3. Having patience

4. Being stealthy

5. Making sacrifices

6. Being overly protective

7. Forgiving and forgetting

8. Doing makeup

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10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

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