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If you are one of those lucky ones hailing from a time when a family normally consisted of 2 or 3 children born within a few years of each other, you will understand the importance of sibling relationships. These days, sadly, it almost seems as if families have shrunk; one no longer boasts of a brother here, another in a different part of the world, and a sister in yet another corner. Siblings - the word itself will soon lose its significance in these times where one or no-kids is the norm. For those who enjoy this wonderful relationship, it is very difficult to dispute the importance of sibling bonds. Sibling relationships typically last longer than other family relationships and are often characterized by higher levels of interaction, shared experiences and support. This is especially true when there is nearness in age and when there is a good degree of involvement in each other's lives; this automatically indicates the strong influence that sibling bonds have on a child's life. So much so that traumatic events like parental divorce, or, even the loss of a parent, may make sibling bonds even more crucial. For example, in the case of a divorce between the parents, the sibling bond will play an important role even when weaker relationships with other family members may suffer, and the children grow closer to each other. The positive impact of an older sibling who takes on the mantle of a role model for the younger ones cannot be denied. If they are a little older, they automatically assume a nurturing or care-taking role which continues well into adulthood. This is especially so in today's busy world where both parents are out at work, and the elder one is often given the responsibility of 'looking after' the younger sibling.
Sibling rivalry has its benefits too. Intense competition between siblings may produce better long-term benefits like well developed problem-solving skills. As they grow older, the attachment to each other becomes deep and they are totally committed to the relationship. In fact, in some cases, this sibling bond matures with age and becomes even more important than the filial bond with parents.
Just want to share this quote about sisters with you -
"We are family, I have all my sisters with me.
All the people around us they say, can they be that close?
Just let me say for the record,
We're giving love in a family dose." If only the population explosion that afflicts our country were non-existent, we could easily go back to those halcyon days when large families bonded with each other right down to distant cousins, and people made time for each other - in short, a time when the world had a more human face.
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