Boards
I love having siblings, but believe me, there are some days where it is a total hassle. Whether it’s an older sibling getting all the attention or a younger sibling getting spoiled, there can be a lot of friction in your house. When you remember that sibling disagreements can have some long-time effects, it becomes even more important to try and get along.
I was reading a Glamour interview with Kylie and Kendall Jenner recently, and the first sentence says that people probs know who they are “because of their famous sisters.” Gah, that’s got to be kind of rough to immediately be known because of your siblings and not necessarily for you. Still, the girls talk a lot about their relationship with their older siblings and it seems that for the most part, they get along and avoid the dreaded trap of sibling rivalry.
Having siblings – younger or older, famous or not – can sometimes be a challenge. Here’s some tips for how to keep things peaceful at home when it comes to dealing with your brothers and sisters and keeping your sibling rivalry in check.
Find Your Peacemaker
Kylie and Kendall told Glamour that big sister Khloe is their "peacemaker." Find that neutral person who can help the two of you work things out before they get too crazy or heated. Maybe it's another sibling, a parent or a cousin. Just make sure it is someone you both trust and admire, and commit to taking their advice with maturity. Source: Joel Ginsburg/WENN.comJust Talk It Out
If your sibling doesn't seem as interested in keeping the peace, you can still use your parents as a resource. Rather than screaming with your sibling and forcing your parents to then sort everything out as an outsider, have a heart-to-heart with mom or dad about how you are feeling and see if they can make suggestions or changes that will help your sibling bond. Source: Shutterstock.comHave Clear Boundaries
Sharing with siblings is great, but you need to have a clear sense of "mine" and "yours." A study of fighting siblings showed how those types of property arguments could negatively impact the siblings' self-esteem. Not good! Just have very open communication with your sibling about what you are each willing to share, and respect that some things just aren't yours to use. Source: Shutterstock.comBe A Team
Siblings can get stuck in the same roles at home even though parents may not have realized one is clearly getting the short end of the stick. Try out a new routine by tackling at-home tasks together. Not only will it go by faster, that should eliminate any fights over the "fairness" of chores or tasks at home. Plus, it gives you time to just chat as you work and spend quality time together. Source: Shutterstock.comDo Your Own Thing
Siblings can sometimes feel pushed to have the same activities or interests, whether they look up to an older sibling or its convenient for parents. Sometimes all those shared interests can intensify rivalry and resentment, so try and see if there's something totally different from your sibling that you want to try. I could be both good for you and your sibling relationship. Source: Shutterstock.comStill Be Yourself
Even if you do have the same interests, still try and find ways to be yourself. Zooey and Emily Deshanel both went into the same career, but I don't feel like they are constantly compared. Maybe because even while doing the same thing, they took different approaches (with networks, genres, characters, etc.). Plus, Zooey has guest starred on Emily's show, so they give a "work together" rather than "compete against" vibe. Source: Apega/WENN.comQuit Comparing
We know it just sounds easy, but we also understand that this is a tough one. People are probably always going to compare you and your siblings in some way or another - that's just a fact of life. But, if you yourself can stop measuring each other up and just see each other as two separate people, that'll make things a lot easier for you. Source: Shutterstock.comLet Your Sibling Have The Spotlight
It can be tempting to try and one-up a sibling in their moment (especially if you feel it's always "their moment"), but try your best to hold back. Everyone deserves some special attention, even sometimes annoying siblings. If you try to get a rise out of them, they'll remember that when it's your turn to be the center of attention and try to steal it back. That sounds like a bad cycle to avoid. Source: Shutterstock.comBut Try To Share Your Spotlight
Okay, so we said let your siblings have their spotlight, but when it is your chance to be the center of attention, give your siblings a little shout out. For example, Jennifer Lawrence thanked her brothers for their support in her Golden Globes acceptance speech. It shows how much you value them and doesn't make it seem like you've been competing against them. They'll start think of the ways YOU support them, and that sounds like a good pattern to get into. Source: Apega/WENN.comSee Them As A Friend
I get in way less fights with my friends than my siblings because I don't take them for granted and I go out of my way for us to do things together. If you can stop seeing your sibling as only a family member and start trying to get to know them like you would a friend, you'll likely have a better relationship which means less fighting and competing. Source: Shutterstock.comHow many siblings do you have? Would you say that you and your siblings are friends? What is the biggest thing that you and your sibling fight over? Tell me in the comments!
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