Can siblings be friends?
ByMany people assume that siblings will naturally be enemies of each other. It seems as if there are so many that don’t get along that it’s just become the norm for parents to expect their children to fight with each other. Of course, any time two or more people live in the same place there is going to be conflict – that’s a given! But it doesn’t have to mean that WWIII is going to break out at any time in your house!
Siblings can get along. That is something that has always been of utmost importance in our home. We have two kids – a boy and a girl – and we have taught them from a very early age that their sibling always comes first. Friends will come and go but their sibling will always be their sibling. We have instilled in them the value of treating each other with respect, with showing each other love, and of spending time with one another.
Our kids are in their mid and late teens now and they are best friends. They hang out together all the time. They have some friends that are the same and some that are different but they both get along with, and will hang out with, all of each other’s friends – together. They don’t throw a fit about having to do things together or include each other – they do it willlingly and without being told. (In fact, if I tried to separate them they’d probably get upset with me!)
Now, I’m not saying all of this to say ‘look at how wonderful my kids are.’ They have their issues – don’t worry! 
But, for the most part they don’t have many issues with each other. I’m just trying to say that it can be done. Siblings can be friends. I think it helps if you start teaching them the value of sibling relationships when they are very young. It’s not something easily started when they are fifteen years old and they can’t stand their little brother or sister! 
But if you nurture these relationships in your children they will grow into the most amazing relationships you’ve ever seen. I know it’s amazing to me! My sister and I didn’t get along very well when we were kids so to see my kids love each other the way they do blesses my heart like you would not believe!
Well said, and what a blessing! I could have written the same thing about our girls. When we moved our oldest into her apartment, the office lady said about her sister, “Is this your best friend?” (They don’t look completely alike.) I laughed and said, “Yes, her sister and her best friend.”
I loved it when they would walk through the door at night after ballet classes laughing and cutting up.
I’m so glad you are seeing those relationships. My wife and her sister still get along great and we like vacationing with them. I hope it is the same with our kids.
I know just what you mean, Neil! It IS such a joy to see them like that. My husband and I have had to consciously make the effort to change so many things about ourselves and our family from the way we grew up and it’s so nice to see the good come of that. It makes me sad for the past and what could have been but it makes me so excited for the future and what our family will be like as they get older and it continues to grow.
I’m glad you are experiencing that as well!!