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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sibling(s) (05/01/08)
My daughter is nine years old and wanted a baby brother or sister for the past three or four years. Six months ago her wish came true. However, it was not what she expected.

As I watch my sweet and loving daughter struggle with feelings of overwhelming love and uncontrollable jealousy I can't help but think how the relationship between siblings is unique.

From the first account of sibling rivalry in the Bible, Cain and Abel, siblings relationships have a tendency to reveal the negative side of an individual.

My daughter loves her brother and is a very loving and gentle young girl but the other day in an act of jealousy she hit her baby brother. I saw the look of horror on her face because she herself could not believe what she had done. Jealousy at times grips us and makes us do the unthinkable like Cain and Abel.

I think that siblings act this way towards one another for two reasons. The first is the competition for their parents love and attention. I don't think you realize until you are a parent that there is enough love for all of your children and that the love is expressed in ways unique to each child. The second is that siblings love each other so fiercely it comes out the wrong way at times. People say that you can't hate without love. This is true with siblings. If you didn't love your sibling so much you wouldn't care what they did.

As I watch my daughter struggle with this I can't help but think of my own struggle. I am the oldest of three. My sister is the middle child, my brother the youngest. We had our moments of disagreements growing up but never had major issues with one another until we became older. We all think the other is favored by different parents.

Recently, my sister went through a difficult divorce and custody battle as well as rehab for an addiction to pain medication. My sister and I are as different as night and day. Of course my mother expects us to be the best of friends though we have not much in common. Even though I didn't agree with what my sister was doing with her life I was the one that held her hand while she was hallucinating in a hospital bed because she overdosed and tried to commit suicide. I was there when she came out of rehab and needed a friend to cry to. I'm still there for her as she complains about having to live with my parents once again. My sister and I can have all the friends in the world that share the same interests as us but no one will know me like my sister and vice versa.

At first when my daughter asked for a brother or sister I thought that she was crazy and didn't know how difficult it would be. I thought how much it would hurt her to feel jealous of someone she loved. But then I went through the tough time with my sister and realized how important the bond is between siblings I wanted that for my daughter.

Now as her six month old brother looks at her with admiration and lights up when he sees her more than any other person I realize why God made siblings.
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This article has been read 707 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Karin Beery
05/09/08
As the middle of three children I understand the "rivalry". I like your take on love being the key issue in all aspects of sibling interaction.

Keep an eye on past/present tense in your writing (it switches often). Also, double check comma usage...they're tricky little buggers, but they can help an essay flow more smoothly.
Yvonne Blake 
05/11/08
Sibling rivalry is an interesting study. Enjoy those adorable kids.They grow up fast!
A little dialogue will help draw the reader into your story.
Good job. Keep writing.
Leticia Caroccio
05/13/08
Interesting article on sibling rivalry. You're right to say that know one will know you like your sister. I am the middle child of seven and sibling rivalry reigned supreme in our home. Still, we were and still are the best of friends. I like the comparison to the Bible story of Cain and Abel. This still holds true today. Good job.