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 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Sibling Day - April 10, 2011
(3 minutes: 53 seconds)
 WMA (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] Sibling Day, which falls on April 10th is a new holiday that the Sibling Day
Foundation (a public non-profit charity) is working toward making a federal
holiday, like Mother’s and Father’s Day, in order to benefit families,
communities, and the Nation. Since 1998, 33 states have officially established
Siblings Day. (In Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee made the proclamation for
April 10 in 1998.) Sibling Day offers brothers and sisters around the country
a special day to honor and acknowledge living siblings and remember those who
died.
People often think about sibling rivalry when they think about brothers and
sisters. A variety of issues can cause sibling rivalry. For example, rivalry
among brothers and sisters can occur when a parent shows favoritism over one
child. Siblings might fight with, ignore, or feel disappointment in one another
because they are modeling parental arguments and household hostility. Still
others might feel resentment toward a sibling due to a disability or problem
that forced parents to provide additional attention to that child. As brothers
and sisters grow up, they might feel “survivors guilt” for becoming more
successful and capable than their siblings, causing them to pull away.
Sibling rivalry can be healthy and helpful when handled well. It can teach
children positive life lessons, such as forgiveness, sharing, negotiating, and
making up after arguments. On the other hand, poorly handled sibling
relationships in the younger years can negatively influence later relationships
with roommates, and other live-together relationships.
As siblings age and experience life’s transitions such as moving out of the
parental home, going to school or work, getting married, or having babies, some
siblings may drift apart. But, as siblings continue to age, especially around
the time that parents are increasingly frail, are dying, or already deceased,
siblings tend to yearn for their sibling bond. There is power in midlife
sibling relationships that stems from a shared childhood history, and affection
for one another during the growing-up years. Siblings often come through for
one another to help deal with life’s challenges—relationship issues, trouble at
work, ailing parents.
National Sibling Day offers brothers and sisters an opportunity to embrace
the special gift of being a sibling. It is the founders hope that this day
will motivate siblings across the country to reach out to one another, and to
tell each other how much they love or appreciate one another. National Sibling
Day also gives siblings an opportunity to reach out to the brother or sister
with whom differences or conflicts exist. In such cases, it is important to
think about the reason for the rivalry and the power of admitting fault or
offering forgiveness. Although siblings are the longest-lasting relationship
you may have, they, nor will you, be around forever. Do not let siblings slip
away without resolving old issues or before telling them how much you love and
appreciate them.
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
References
Dr. Amy F. Hosier, Family Life Specialist, University of Kentucky
Lewis, KG. (2007). Here’s a day to seek, cherish good sibling
relations. Retrieved on Feb. 2, 2010 from:
http://www.siblingsday.org/publishedarticlesinterviews.htm.
Siblings Day Foundation.
http://www.siblingsday.org/bodyframe.htm
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