A Sibling Tale

In hindsight, I should have known better than to buy my niece a girl toy.

While I really thought the Disney Princess-themed trinket would make Lilly happy, all she wanted to do was play with her brother’s toy light saber.

Like most younger siblings, Lilly wants to have everything Nicholas has, to the point where I’ve instituted a new Aunt Mandy rule: Both children get the same treats.

Because Lilly’s usually end up tossed to the floor, and Nicholas’ end up in Lilly’s possession.

Nicholas? He takes it all pretty well (until she tried to smooch him). He is 8, and Lilly will turn 3 next month, and he deals with her constant presence with humor tinged with big-brother protectiveness.

When Lilly insists on sitting right next to Nicholas, or having the same snack as Nicholas or playing with the same toy I’m reminded of how I felt as a little girl with a younger sister who did the same thing: Annoyed.

“Why does she always have to sit by me?” I’d whine to my mom.

And her answer was the same every time: “You should take it as a compliment—she wants to be just like her big sister.”

While I didn’t believe it at the time (I don’t think any of us did), after watching my niece and nephew interact during a sleepover at my house this past weekend, it was clear this is the case with Lilly.

She wants to be just like her big brother.

She watches him closely, sometimes imitating his posture or laugh. She follows him around when they play outside.

I didn’t get it fully until then: How even as children we begin influencing others—that even those at a tender age can be role models for others.

And it made me thankful for the relationship I have with my sister. As soon as I stopped being jealous of the attention she (and all babies) got, we became best friends (who still have about one major blowup a year, usually while on vacation).

I wish that for Lilly and Nicholas—and by the way they treat each other, I don’t think that’s gonna be a problem.

Editor’s Note: I included a couple pictures of my bad girl…er…Lilly and Nicholas. Feel free to upload your favorite sibling picture, too!