Siblings play a very important role in our lives especially in child development. While growing up, children need each other in their development since the older ones can become supportive and even role models to the young ones. Siblings will always support each other despite the fact that most of the time they always compete for attention in the house. Siblings learn from each other every time they interact and do things together.
It feels good to have someone in your life whereby you can discuss life issues with. Siblings are the best people to be with and can help you face your challenges in life and make it easier for you. When one grows up alone without other siblings around them, it is very hard to find someone close enough to help you out when you are in need. I grew up all alone with parents because I was the only child to my mum and day. Life was so boring; I always locked myself in my room because I felt so lonely and needed someone of my age just to share my life with. My mom would buy me some clothes and I never liked them and just needed someone to play with. My first day in school was very boring as I never talked to anyone because I had learnt just to be alone in my room so I waited for the other kids to talk to me but I did not make any friends that day. I went home complaining to my mum that I do not want to go to school anymore because other children hate me and for sure I did not go the next day. My dad pitied me a lot because I would stay at home, no one to play with and lock myself in my room. The next morning, he convinced me to go to school with the promise that I have a half sister and by the time I come back from school, she will be at home. That was the best day in my life. I could not believe that I was going to have a sibling. My half sister was now at home, she was always around me, even though we argued a lot in the house and competed for attention, she was my best companion I had at that time. I said goodbye to loneliness. A sibling relationship is the most enduring relationship in our lives because we have been very close since we were little and we shared everything about what happens in our lives. My half sister has been my best friend since I was a child, I just do not know how life could have been without her by my side. She helped shape my character, my history and so many things that are unexplainable.
According to White (560), siblings who grow up together and interact frequently influence each other’s social life and personalities as they develop into adulthood. This is true because my sister was a very first learner as my mom says. Additionally, she is always very confident and I can say I took over that from her. I am always very first in learning things and am very confident in everything that I do and this all thanks to my sister. I used to watch my sister as she does everything, her confidence and how she communicated really impressed me and this is how I became strong with excellent communication skills. I took my good communication skills after her and this helps me even when communicating with my friends both at home and in school.
A positive relationship between siblings influences every stage of a child’s life from childhood, throughout adolescence into adulthood (Brody 15). My sister was very caring and protective of me since I was younger than her. Siblings are very important when one is growing up. I spent most of the time with her and she taught me a lot of things. She taught me how to act around my friends and how to handle any disagreements with my peers.
In addition, she played a very great role in my academic achievement. I never liked going to school and studying after school. Doing my homework was a problem and I gave my mother a hard time with doing my homework. My sister has been my source of inspiration all through. She offered to help me with my home work even though she still had her homework to do. Furthermore, she encouraged me and explained to me the importance of education and how I will succeed in life if I excel in my school work. She was the source of my encouragement in working hard in class and passing all my exams because, I wanted to be on top of my class just like she used to be the top in their class. If I did not have a sibling who was so close to me like my sister, I could have never known the importance of excelling academically because I never used to listen to my mother. My sister taught me how to respect my mom and the elder people. I used to joke a lot with my mother and never listened to anything that she said but after watching my sister respecting her and following her instructions, I changed and became an obedient person who obeyed my parents and everyone around me. My sibling never engaged in delinquent behaviors and through her positive influence. I grew up as a child with good character.
Lack of siblings in one’s life is detrimental throughout the life course as a child will only master solitary pursuits (Trent and Spitze, 1180). One becomes less sociable due to lack of social skills because he/she grew up alone. I grew up with my sister, we used to interact all the time and she introduced me to many friends who improved my social skills and communication. Having siblings plays a very vital role in the social lives of people. When there are siblings, they provide emotional support and companionship throughout childhood to adulthood. Moreover, they contribute to the social needs of each other since they are always available for each other.
With my sister around me, I felt complete because I had someone to talk to and hang out with. It felt good to have an elder sister looking after me even though at times I tried starting an argument with her, but all in all she was my role model and never engaged with an argument with me because she was playing the big sis and never wanted me to go wrong.
Siblings will always have a huge impact in a person’s life. I got to experience life with and without siblings and I know how to be alone without a sibling to talk to and share life issues with. My half sister helped a lot in building my character and in my academic excellence. Growing up as an only child is very boring and stressful since one only learns to be alone and socializing becomes a problem. When one is an only child, they only think about themselves and never make friends. My life was insipid without my half sister and when she came into my life, I learnt a lot of things from her and she taught me to be persevering and a loving person who I am today. My half sister unquestionably had a big effect in my life, my life was insipid, no friends or sibling to play with but when she came into my life, it changed completely. I relied on her as a playmate and as a shelter from the less-familiar world. Moreover, I confided with her about my problems at school and my friends and I turned t her every time I was in trouble. She prepared me for social interaction with others through her communication and relationship skills with her friends whereby initially, I was just lonely with no friends and afraid to make them. In essence, growing up with siblings is the best because it is like a laboratory to learn about their life issues and how to handle them. When they are together, they learn how to interact with the outside world and how to manage disagreements between them and their friends. I learn all these through my sister and if I grew up alone, I do not think I would be having friends by now since she taught me how to make friends and stop living an insipid life.
Works Cited
Brody, Gene, H. Sibling relationship quality: Its causes and consequences. Annual Review of Psychology 49 (1998):1-24.Print.
White, Lynn. K. Sibling relations over the life course: A panel analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family 63 (2001):555–568. Print.
Trent, Katherine and Spitze Glenna. Growing Up Without Siblings and Adult Sociability Behaviors. Journal of Family Issues 32.9 (2011): 1178-1204. Print.
