The Guts of a Family

Siblings (n.): two or more people with the same parents; those people in our immediate family whom we think of as peers; brothers and sisters. They flank us in birth order, haunt our privacy, insert their wisdom unbidden, taunt our vulnerabilities, and watch our backs. Because they know the subtle chinks in our armor, siblings have the power to infuriate us as well as defend us. They love us, humor us, humble us, support us, drive us to the brink of our sanity, and yank us back from the edge lest we fall. They are our friends, mentors, devil’s advocates, cheerleaders, critics, confidantes, and comrades. No one can hurt us like they can, but no one can make us laugh harder or feel more loved, appreciated, and whole. The sibling relationships in our family constitute a long list.