Reconnecting with my Sister
In trying to repair the relationship my mother has damaged between me and my 13 year old sister, I’ve found myself thrown into pre-teen follies.
I love my sister like she was my own child. I feel like I raised her. When she was born, I was 14, just finishing middle school, and I stayed home a lot in order to take care of her while our mother healed. I changed the diapers, I mixed the formula, I played a big part of the “mother” role at a young age. I was even allowed to leave school early during my freshman year, so that I could go home to take care of my sister everyday. Sorta like a “housewife work-leave” excuse.
My sister is coming over today, my theory is mostly to try out World of Warcraft. Which is fine with me, it’s all the rage, and I certainly don’t play it much anymore. She’s playing it because the “guy soon 2 be her bf” plays, and I’ve noticed she talks about her “bf’s” lightly. Last week it was some other guy. Our AIM conversations revolve around her pre-teen issues, and all I can do is offer simple and thoughtful input and advice, for these are not things I dealt with at her age. Luckily I can read people very well.
She also wants me to play Runescape with her. I have absolutely no interest in playing Runescape, but I relish in the idea of something that she and I can do together. I enjoy games, she’s just getting into games (though she is limited because mother only has AOL dial-up). I wish I could get her more interested in my MUD, but I’m afraid she will only grow bored until we are into beta.
I guess I feel like I’m grasping at straws to figure out a way for us to reconnect as sisters. She’s grown out of the “My sister is the only one to protect me and I want to live with her” stage to “I want to live with mom because she lets me get away with everything and has internet.”
Perhaps it was our method of growing up that has made us so different. On one hand, I grew up in a completely “country” setting, and though I did get an Atari and Nintendo when it first came out, I was not mixed up in a lot of material items. I played in the mud, I played with farm animals, I was not given a lot of luxuries. I can’t say that we were poor, we were middle to lower class. Just making ends meet.
My sister, however, already has her own computer, a cellphone, an mp3 player, and whatever other gadgets you can think of that are “must have.” She’s grown up in Suburbia, she’s heavily into boys, drama, clothes and make-up. Though I like to think that keeping her exposed to me and my lifestyles and ideals will continue to instill her with a more appreciative concept of life and nature in general.
This summer I’d like to take her to a zoo, and maybe Cunningham Falls. I’d also like to take her on a camping trip that does not involve a circle of campers and frivolities. And I’d appreciate any other feedback on what sort of activities can help distract a pre-teen mind from societal brainwashing 
Entry viewed times. Posted in Sister
2 Responses to “Reconnecting with my Sister”
March 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Sibling relationships are so complicated. Gosh, I could write a novel about it! You’re a wonderful person for taking such a thoughtful and caring interest in your sister, too often we let those relationships slide away.
March 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
How old is she again? I have an 11 year boy and a nine year old girl. They like to go swimming, play miniature golf, ride dirt bikes and watch movies. Horseback riding is always fun- maybe there is someplace that has trail rides.
Maybe you could volunteer for a day with an organization like, um, the one that helps build houses for the poor? I can’t recall the name. Anything that gives back to the less fortunate is great.
I will admit, bonding can occur with a trip to the mall with big sister too, so don’t discount it. Ogling over the puppies at the pet store, eating giant pretzels, buying beads to make matching friendship bracelets, picking out candles at the candle factory and people watching is all fun alternative things that can be done in a mall setting. My daughter loves the build a bear workshop also. It would be neat to see what you could accomplish in a center for social brainwashing, you know?
When I lived in upstate new york, my grandparents would take me for a drive to different small towns and we would stop at all the antique stores and all the mom and pop places. They were wonderful interesting times. Orchards are fun to visit, and I loved picking strawberries!!! Then later, me and my dad would make strawberries shortcake. Yummy! I also loved going to ceramics class with my mom.
Don’t be misled, my childhood was not idyllic, I am highlighting the good times, lol!