GREENSBORO, N.C. — Today is National Brothers and Sisters Day. It's a day dedicated to recognizing the unique relationship between siblings, but let's be honest, it's not always rainbows and sunshine, is it?
There are various reasons that brothers and sisters don't get along. Parental favoritism, perceived or not, is a leading source of problems for siblings. When a child thinks a sibling is favored, it can cause sibling rivalry and resentment. Many times, these unresolved issues last into adulthood.
If you're an adult and want to mend fences with your sibling, it's important to figure out what you want to focus on. Focusing on a specific issue rather than generalized childhood problems is usually better. Focusing on a particular situation avoids bringing up many past hurts. It also allows you to take ownership of your part in the situation, which usually leads to a more straightforward resolution.
There can be some truth to the saying, "No one knows you like your brother or sister." They've usually seen you at your worst. But here's the thing: life takes you down different paths, which means that even though you shared a childhood home, you might change as an adult. You have different experiences, beliefs, and values outside of how you grew up. And this can shape who you become, which might be different from who you were as a kid. This means that siblings who knew you best as kids might not be the ones who know the complexities of you as an adult.
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