By Nisma Hamid | @nismahamid
This is by far one of the easier articles I’ve written for Tempo, and that’s because this month’s topic is something I’m definitely not short on. Yup, that’s right! I’m talking about those pesky pains in your derrière (excuse my French): siblings.
If you feel the same way, you aren’t alone buddy! I’ve wished for the only-child life countless times, some would say a bit too much. I am the eldest child in my family, and although some may believe that the middle child always gets the short end of the stick, I could not disagree more. It’s the eldest who has it worse. We are entrusted with the family’s legacy and image and our actions are always meant to “set an example’”. We are the most influential of the younger generation. There is constant pressure to succeed and be who your parents and siblings expect you to be. Not to mention the never-ending blame game. Despite those negative points, there are plenty of great things about having siblings.
One thing is that it guarantees dull moments are less abundant. My younger, nine-year-old brother is crazy; he started out as all children do: angelic and mostly charming, but that didn’t last very long. The second he hit four, he pulled a 180. From shy and quiet, he flipped to sassy and opinionated. He never stays too long in one place nor does he still shy away from the spotlight. Although those qualities can get unbearably irritating at times, they are also what make him my brother and so fun to be around. My relationship with my sister, however, is far better, probably because of our close ages and similar interests.
When you feel like the entire world is against you, the one person you can count on, if you are lucky enough to have one, is your sister. I know that no matter the situation, my connection with my sister can transcend any conflicts – and God knows we’ve had many. Each fight only seems to bring us closer. All my problems are hers just like all hers are mine, and the great thing is that it applies to the failures and the victories.
Energy is a powerful thing. Being surrounded with the good energy from those closest to you can have a mammoth effect on your perspectives and views of life and how to live it. And who better to surround yourself with than family. Anytime I get into an argument with my brother or sister, I try to remember that they are the people that understand me the most, and having that kind of reassurance is not only refreshing but also empowering.
What you can take from this article is that no matter how out of synch you and your siblings are, you must remember that they can probably relate to you more than a lot of people can, sometimes even more than you may realize or expect. Cherish them while you are all under the same roof, because one day you’ll wish you could go back in time. I know I will miss my siblings when I leave for college soon.
