Sibling Dynamics Shape Us, Too
We often hear about how much our parents shape us, but the ways our siblings relate to and influence us can be just as profound.
For years, I’d felt guilt, sadness, and a longing to be close to my older sister, but our relationship was shadowed by deep, unresolved dynamics from our childhood. She kept me at arms’ length, only talking to me when necessary, and I felt badly every time I thought about reaching out to her.
I knew the first step was to examine and take responsibility for my part in the rift. I didn’t need to relive each painful episode, but I needed to understand the general dynamic and recognize my contributions to it.
So, I wrote my sister a letter describing my lifelong desire for acceptance, inclusion, and closeness with her. I apologized for being a c
ompetitive brat, always trying to best her and push my way into her circle of friends. I used to shoot her disapproving looks and say sharp, mean things when I felt excluded or when I couldn’t keep up with her and her friends. In many ways, I was the favored child when we were young. I hurt her feelings then, and I think the legacy of that old favoritism lingers today.
** This article first appeared in Maui Mama Magazine May-June 2016. www.mauimama.com
For more about family and sibling dynamics and how they affect you, read my book, Issues in Your Tissues: Heal Body and Emotion from the Inside Out. The next book will delve into these topics in greater depth. But start there!