I grew up in a family with 9 children! It was chaotic, loud and wonderful. Most of us shared one bathroom with only one sink! We actually sat down to dinner together the majority of evenings. Our home life was boisterous, full of life and brimming with lots of personality! We learned manners, to do chores, to work hard in school and we also learned to get along. 🙂
We didn’t always get along well, because there were a variety of individuals and that’s just humans! There is a lot you learn by being in close proximity with other people!
My oldest sister Kristy and I clashed a bit. She was a parent pleaser and I was sassy. I was super tidy and she was messy. Most of our interactions were limited and antagonistic. She just wasn’t my friend, and I wasn’t hers. There were five years between us, so perhaps, I was an annoying little sister. (Or definitely)
One day when Kristy was 16 and I was 11 years old, she came into our shared room and looked at me. I prepared for a fight. She had just been to her two best friend’s houses where they too had little sisters. Kristy explained to me that Jane and Anne were friends with their little sisters. I probably answered back with a big contemptuous “So?”
Kristy plainly said “I want to be friends with you.” I was incredulous, we weren’t friends. I didn’t want to fall for this weird trick.
Over the next couple of weeks, Kristy smiled at me everyday. At first I hurried past, nervous that this was a joke. Soon enough though, I began to return her smile and then hurry away. She began chatting with me about things at school, and I listened. She was in High School and I was in 6th grade. Kristy kindly asked me questions and listened. We were becoming friends, mostly from her efforts.
After a few weeks of intentional effort, I believed her. I believed from her actions that she wanted to be my friend. Additionally, after interacting with “nice” Kristy, I really wanted to be her friend too. She absolutely won me over, I no longer hurried away. We talked a little everyday. I relaxed around this cute girl and was so glad for our new normal of what a sister could be.
I would say Kristy is most responsible for the change of heart. She saw a better way and caught a vision of what could be. I was not initially a willing participant. Only when I felt she was sincere and could be trusted, did I let my guard down and see her with new eyes.
That was decades ago. Kristy is still one of best friends and even better she is also my sister.
So take this for what you will. Everyone’s circumstance is different. People can be complicated, but people can also be wonderful! Lots of difficult relationships may take much longer than a few weeks to set on a new path.
The time will pass anyway. Why not be the one to make a move?
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Our neighbor Sherri (who you might not remember, because they moved when I was in 6th grade) said she loved this story!! 🥰🥰. Thanks for sharing fun memories! ❤️
Awwww! I’m glad to hear that Sherri stopped by, and thanks for being the one to make a beautiful change! Love you sis!