You never heard of it? Well, neither had I until last week when I went to the store to buy my brother, whose birthday happens to be April 10, a birthday card. There among all the many greeting cards were signs announcing National Siblings Day, April 10, and rows of cards to buy and send to that favorite, or not so favorite, brother or sister.
Knowing how much the women who work in card shops love to be of help, I asked what National Siblings Day was all about. The woman was more knowledgeable about this occasion than I expected, or wanted, and proceeded to relay to me all she knew.
The day is celebrated each year on April 10 to honor brothers and sisters. It was started by a woman from New York, Claudia Evart, in 1995. Her older brother and sister had died when they were each very young. She chose the date, April 10, because it was her late sister’s birthday. Every year since then, the President of the US, and governors of each state issue a proclamation recognizing Siblings Day.
As I left the store with more information in my head than when I walked in, and without a birthday card for my brother, I started thinking of what my two sisters and brother mean to me. In a nutshell, they mean a lot.
My siblings are a few years older than me, ten, eight, and six years to be exact. For me that was lucky because they provided the biggest competition and strongest encouragement, and at the same time taught me to laugh at some of my most awkward moments.
Sure, at times we teased, tattled on, and annoyed each other. A few times we argued, cried, and slammed and locked our bedroom doors. Most times were filled with fun and laughter as I remember vacations at the beach, trips to Disney World, going to Carowinds, days at the zoo, playing in the snow, running around the back yard, and watching TV together. I remember special little things like my big brother giving me his collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures to play with because they were popular again for kids my age, my one sister teaching me to “fight the waves” at the ocean when they knocked me down as a preschooler, and the patience of my other sister in playing hours of GoFish and other kiddie games that she had more than grown out of. I remember making my brother laugh so hard that milk came out his nose, a highlight of my days as the little, younger kid brother.
They are my biggest fans and best friends. The grew up with me and every time I need help or someone to talk to, they are always willing. There’s a lot of things happening every day that can ruin a relationship with your friends. When they are not satisfied with their friendship with you, they will leave without any reason. But not my siblings, they will not leave me. They share my happiness and sorrows in life. Occasionally, we have different points of view, but our connection never disappears.
I can say things to them that I can say to no one else. They really seem to understand me. Maybe it’s because they are the only people in the world who know what’s it like to be brought up the way I was. They not only witnessed it, they were brought up the same way!
How many siblings do you have? Are you rivals or supporters of each other? Regardless, give them a call or a text today. And even though it’s not federally recognized like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day (hint, hint, they are coming soon), Hallmark is there to provide you with the perfect card if you so desire.
As far as my brother and two sisters go, I just want to give a shout out and say thanks for always having my back, sharing your favorite toys with me, and just being there whenever I need solid advice or a shoulder to lean on. They say the best things in life come in threes, and I got three of the best.
Oh and by the way, Happy Birthday Tim.