Marc Hoover
If you are an only child, then you didn’t have to share your toys or worry about receiving hand-me-downs from older siblings. But if you did have siblings, you know all about fighting over hot water, food, living space, TV and fair treatment from your parents.

So what is it about our siblings? We often grow up in the same house, share the same bathroom, eat the same food and swim in the same genetic pool, but we turn out so differently.

Even twins are different. My two brothers are twins. Although they share the same birthdays and many of the same interests, they are different. One is quiet and not as social as his twin. According to Doctor Avidan Milevsky of Psychology Today, “Sibling de-identification is when children actively choose to follow a path that is strikingly different than the path pursued by their siblings.” He adds, “Siblings may actively strive to create differences between themselves in order to defend against sibling rivalry.” 

For instance, consider a family who raised a doctor, lawyer and a construction worker. What happened? Two earned college degrees while their sibling picked up a hammer and nails and went to work after high school.

Even more unusual is when the three brothers get together, they don’t talk shop.

Instead, they will bond over beers, wings and scream at whatever sporting event is on the television. They will then revert to their childhood and have a wonderful time.

Afterward, the brothers will go home and return to their lives. Days of sharing a bunk bed and fighting over the last cookie have become memories. And loyalty? As children, many older siblings torment their younger siblings. But no else better try it unless they want a busted lip.

Although siblings fight and argue, relationships change with age.

Instead of looking at Johnny as a little mud pie eating monster, he is now the best man at your wedding and will spend his weekend helping you with yardwork. Here are five reasons why siblings are your best friends.

1. They understand you

It can become frustrating when your spouse or friends don’t understand you. On a scorching day, you may think that taking a sick day and driving to the ocean is reasonable. Besides, it’s what you used to do with your siblings. While you call it carefree living, your spouse and best friend think you are a slacker or someone who doesn’t take life seriously. If your brother lived nearby, he would willingly skip work to go swimming.

2. They watch your back

Before you were old enough to work, you can probably remember craving a candy bar at the local grocery. But you didn’t have any money, so what did you do? Simple, you joined forces with your sister and had her distract the cashier so you could swipe two candy bars. One for her and one for you. And after your days of taking candy, you may depend on your siblings to house-sit for you while you go on vacation. They got your back. The trust should go both ways.

3. They bond through tough times

Sometimes life is painful. It can also be traumatic when a parent or sibling dies. Death or illness is a common bond shared among siblings. When a parent dies, siblings often work together to care for their surviving parent. And if it’s a sibling’s death, the remaining siblings will often care for their deceased sibling’s children.

4. They share the best inside jokes

During every Thanksgiving dinner, Aunt Sally and her brother Herb always share a laugh whenever Grandpa Roy cooks the turkey. Everyone else around the table may stare and wonder why. But they don’t know why Sally and Herb are laughing because they don’t know the joke. The first year Grandpa Roy cooked the turkey, he overcooked it into a large lump of charcoal. The family ate hamburgers for Thanksgiving dinner that year.

5. They are not afraid to be honest with you

Ask your husband if your pants make your hips look larger. He will say no because he doesn’t want to sleep on the couch. But don’t ask your siblings about those pants because you know what they will say. And they won’t have an issue with telling you to wear something different. Siblings just cannot help themselves when it comes to brutal honesty.

Marc is a grandparent and longtime resident of Clermont County. Visit his author page at http://www.lifewithgrandpa.com and blog at www.wisegrandpa.com.