Sibling Stories

Anyone who grew up with a brother or sister has enough stories to last a lifetime. Sibling memories can make us laugh, cry, and wonder how we ever made it though childhood. The forced babysitter, the teasing, the annoyances, but also the support, the friendship, and the camaraderie--all of those blessings and burdens sum up what it means to be a brother or sister. Sibling dynamics can shape us, scar us, and leave a lasting impact on our adult lives, which is why these stories are worth asking about, capturing and sharing to help us understand one another. Here are some of our favorite stories of childhood featuring those brothers and sisters with whom we are bonded to, for better or for worse!

“My brothers and I got along great as kids. D. was my first playmate. Since I was the older sister, he did all I told him to do for the first few years of his life. Then W. came along and was a cheerful and playful baby. But then D. and W. became more interested in each other as fellow boys, and I became a little envious of their shared camaraderie. I tried to keep up with them physically, but didn’t always succeed!"

“My brother was a very funny and active kid with energy that led to a lot of minor injuries. He had a bandage over his head in more than one childhood photo! None of us were perfect—I remember jumping on furniture a lot. We’d all be jumping on the den couch and, next thing you know, the local doctor was making a house visit to stitch up my brother's forehead on Christmas Eve!”

"We were the best of friends as we got older, but as kids we had our moments. My sister had her own room because she was the princess—we still kid her about that to this day. My brothers and I had to share a room and it was messy. We had one closet (that my sister also used) and bunk beds that went three high. Thankfully I had the bottom bunk, because if you were on the top, you had to be careful or you’d smack your head on the ceiling.”

“I would say we followed typical gender roles and birth order. B. was the dependable older brother, kind and patient. S. was the baby and was such a cutie pie. But we had our share of squabbles, including fistfights and pillow fights. My brothers would get into it and S. could fake cry, so B. would be on top of him and then quickly leap off when S. started with tears. Mom would come in and console him, but then as soon as she left the room, S. was completely fine."

“I left for school a little earlier and when my sister got to school, nine times out of ten, she had one of my outfits on. That would get me so mad! My baby sister D. could be a little brat and it seemed like she got away with a lot more with our parents. If I had a boy over to the house, she plopped right in front of the TV, blocking our view, just to be a pest. As much as we fought as kids, we all became very close as we raised our families together."

“I wasn't alive to witness it, but I heard my brother rode his bicycle down the basement stairs when he was two! He was a total prankster and thrill seeker, but still sweet in his own way. If D. was babysitting us, he’d make us dinner and pretend to be a waiter and serve us like guests in a restaurant. When he was in college, he built a telescope and brought it home, allowing us and all our friends to take a look through it. That was quite an experience.”

“Our family was like Ozzie and Harriet, a happy family and a happy home. But my brothers and I had our share of disagreements. I remember one time we were bickering about something, and B. picked up my BB gun and said, ‘You better start running…’ Then, he shot me in the rear end!"

Think about it--your parents and grandparents grew up with siblings, too! Did you grow up close to aunts and uncles? And if so, do you know how they all related to one another as kids? How did their relationships change as they got older? Ask them! You'll be amazed at what you might discover.