unsplash pic by ManuelTheLensMan
Growing up the only girl was a blessing in my eyes. My dad was a wonderful man and always had
stories about my mom being pregnant with me and how he was overjoyed to have a new baby girl.
My older brother was born 18 months before me, so he had his joy in having his very first son.
What great first-time father wouldn’t be excited about that?
My Dad Was My Superman (R.I.P.).
As I grew up, I always wanted the typical sibling relationship. I thought we would hang out more,
have a few things in common, and just be someone’s little sister who they adored.
Nope.
A few fun conversations but years of name-calling, not wanting me (or any of us, for that matter)
to come to his basketball games, just no real connection. To the point, after being in the same
elementary school together for most of our early years, I vowed to go to a different high school to
disconnect. My parents were totally against me going to a different school. Of course, for travel’s
sake, it made sense to be at the same school…but the treatment, I would not go through another 4
years. It was the best thing ever. I was so glad to go away to college (even though I had to come
back a couple of years later) to enjoy life with none of it.
The New Addition
When I was 17, my younger brother was born. What an experience! I thought, Finally! Another
chance to connect with a sibling when we are older. He married young and really didn’t physically
return but a few times to visit. Times I can count on one and a half hands.
I’m the only girl, and the expectations and accountability for me have always been high. I’m sure
they set them for all 3 of us.
However, it’s the girl who catches it. I wanted to be the sister that brothers helped out. I wanted to
be the sister who can say, “Yeah, my brothers spoil me”. I would love to have said all my adult life
that they always come to visit me, and we are super tight!
Time To Let Go
Time to let go of the expectations. The wishing things were different. It’s my birthday
month, for goodness sake.
They probably don’t know or may not even care. Instead of sending me something for the
holidays, birthdays, etc., as I have done for years, but stopped when I saw that type of care would
never be returned, asking me for more.
Sorry, the answer is “No”.