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Sisters Now And Always

Filed Under: BLOG, Family Life, One Word Challenge, sisters Tagged With: , ,

“You need to talk more and make new friends in kindergarten.”

I was driving home recently with my girls, I heard the above heartfelt and declarative statement from my older daughter, who is now in first grade giving to her younger sister now in kindergarten this current school year.

The significance of this bold and monumental, sibling advice didn’t elude me.  I admit, I may have been pretending I wasn’t listening while keeping my eyes on the road for my girls sake, but secretly I confess that I tuned my ears in more than these two ever could have imagined to have a literal front and up close seat to the sisterly exchange.

To give a quick background to the reader, my now 1st grade daughter was only a shy and introverted kindergartner a year ago, but a lot has changed in only a year’s time.

Emma 1st Day of Kindergarten

If anyone was qualified to shed some light on what my youngest would and should do during her first year in elementary school, it would indeed be the now first grader, who literally just completed this very same stage of her own young life only one year previous.

As much as I have been trying to advise my baby on what to expect in kindergarten in recent times, I am probably not as qualified on this even after parenting her sister through the last year.  

For starters, kindergarten is nothing like it was when I attended almost 30 years ago as she will now learn how to read, write and perform simple addition and subtraction for 6 plus hours day.  

It is also the first time that she has been away from me for an extended period of time for days on an end.  Still yet, this is a time where she will have to give more trust and herself to another adult figure other then me — her teacher.

Yet, all these uncharted challenges, set aside, our most recent once kindergarten student had noticed that her baby sister was uncharacteristically quiet when meeting up with some of her classmates.

Having her cake and eating it too

So, she took this opportunity to dispense from her own recent experiences from only the year before not only that her sister should be more willing to make new friends, but why she should as I continued to listen to the sisterly conversation play out.

According to big sister, above all the lessons that could indeed be learned from her first full-time school experience, being open to new friendships was on the top of the list, because in her exact words she added,  “School can be a lonely place without your friends” to say the least.

Emma Turning 6 and Making Chocolate at Her Party

Maybe I am a bit biased.  

After all, I am the mom to both of these amazing young girls, who are only separated by 16 months, but still I can’t help but see all the beauty and love in the above words of wisdom from my former kindergartener to her younger, now kindergarten sister that was given straight from her heart and with so much love, too.  

Emma and Lily Celebrating

See as much as these two sisters love one another and are mostly the best of friends after school hours, weekends and holidays, still truth be told I do agree with my older daughter’s observations that they do need their own friends in their own respective grades.  

So, for the 6 year old to verbalize to this her kid sister was truly amazing and heartwarming to me.  The almost 5 year old, nodded and listened and I am hopeful now that she will remember her sister’s words for the year ahead.

Sisters always helping sisters never gets old around here #1word @TheGoldenSpoons

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If all else fails though, there was nothing more beautiful in my eyes and ears than the affection and tenderness that these two sisters shared during this chat.  Hopeful that they will always be this close for years to come.

This post was also written for the One Word Blog Linkup that is hosted by Lisa of The Golden Spoons and yours truly, too.

The words for this week are: Always or Simple or Over; Please feel free to linkup and join us this week.

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*Also, I am on Today Parenting Team with my review of the LeapPad Learning Tablet for kids this holiday season.  Please check it out and also cast a VOTE for me, too.

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Leanne@crestingthehill says

    little children often have more wisdom than we give them credit for! It’s lovely that she cares enough about her little sister to try and offer helpful advice (also a sign of great parenting!)

    • Janine says

      Leanne, you are so right and both my girls do have more wisdom than I could ever give them credit for. And thank you always for your kind words here, too 🙂

  3. Seana Turner says

    I’m thankful for my sister. We have always been close, but when we were growing up, we were sometimes in different phases of life (4 years apart.) Now our phases are very similar, which has only brought us closer.

    • Janine says

      Aw, so happy you and your sister are so close now. Like you though can understand the years being an issue, as my brother is 6 years younger than me and growing up it was a bit of a challenge at times, but now we couldn’t be closer if we tried, too 😉

  4. Meredith says

    My sister is my rock in this world, and I think there is nothing more special than the love sisters have for each other! Love that you get this!

    • Janine says

      Aw, love that you get this, too and sounds like you and your sister have an amazing relationship. Gives me so much hope for the future with my own girls, too 😉

  5. Chris Carter says

    Oh Janine!!! Those two just are so so precious together!! This sisterhood bond will continue on for the rest of their lives… and oh how perfect that advice was- and given with such insight from her own Kindergarten experience! You are SO blessed with these two beautiful girls!!

    • Janine says

      Thank you always Chris and I am so hopeful that this bond and relationship will indeed continue on for them for years to come now 😉

  7. Bill says

    I think it is so cool that those two are growing up so close in age. I predict they are going to be very close, loving sisters their entire lives….that is so very special. 🙂

    Have a super Wednesday, Janine!

  9. Jen says

    Oh Janine, this is too sweet! Sisters are so important. I know they fight, but as they grow up you know they will have eachother’s back. Thanks for sharing this precious glimpse into your family!

  12. Lisa @ The Golden Spoons says

    So sweet! My youngest two, now 8 & 11 next week, are best buds. Last night, Megan was helping Emily with her math homework. The oldest two – well, they are like oil and water and , sometimes, I wonder if they will ever really be friends! 🙂

  13. Emily says

    Aw Janine, I just love that. There’s nothing cuter when a sibling gives heartfelt advice to another. My boys do the same thing even now, but sometimes it’s in the reverse with the younger giving the older advice! Cracks me up!

    • Janine says

      Aw, man I long to here this in reverse now and can only imagine what kind of advice my sassy younger daughter could give LOL! 😉

  15. Mama G says

    Beautiful post Janine, so lovely to see that they’re friends as well as sisters. I wish mine got on well, the only time there isn’t arguing and my house is silent is when they’re in three different rooms!

  18. Marilyn says

    What a lovely story. There is nothing more satisfying than to hear of siblings that are close and love one another. Your girls are special young ladies.
    Marilyn

  19. Diane Roark says

    Janine,

    This made my day! The words of such a wise little girl broke my heart. I too was thinking they know what friendship is all about and will definitely be besties forever!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing this sweet story.
    Blessings,
    Diane

  20. Diane Hill Roark says

    I loved this post! Your girls are recognizing at such a young age the value of friendship and sisters forever. They are beautiful on the outside and inside. Your doing a great job Janine Huldie

  21. Tamara says

    That is.. so cute. Every now and then Scarlet will offer guidance and patience to Des (rather than screaming) and she has this particular “teacher voice” she uses just for him. It’s hilarious and lovely.

  22. Becca says

    What a sweet post! Your girls are lucky to have each other! I’m 32 and my sister is 25 and she still doesn’t listen to my advice when I try to make things easier for her LOL

  23. Aunt Gloria says

    This almost brought tears to my eyes! How very sweet and wonderful to hear the relationship between the girls. And how astute and sensitive of Emma to offer such sage advice…..I am truly impressed. I always knew they were special, but this proves it! You and Kevin are special too…..Love you…..xxoo

  24. Carrie Groneman says

    That is so sweet and takes me back to when my girls were young. However, they still teach and help each other. Fabulous post Janine, I love it as I always do. Thank you for sharing your life with us. Carrie

  27. Leslie says

    What a fantastic big sister! And that the oldest would be worried that her sister would have the same problems she did, such sweet compassion.

  29. Kristi Campbell says

    Aw, Janine! That’s utterly adorable! I love that Emma’s looking out for her baby sister and giving her good advice to surviving kindergarten and school. So so sweet! <3

  31. Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom says

    Aww, this was so lovely!

    When I was pregnant with my second, I was hoping for a boy. I wanted a son and daughter. However, we got a girl and I couldn’t be happier. There is something special about sisters. Their love, Their bond. It’s unbeatable. I always wanted a sister. I ended up getting a brother when I was 18 years old (and no longer living at home).

    My girls fight like crazy but they love each other more than anything… so it’s all good.

    Yay for sisters!

    Thanks for sharing this sweet reflection.
    xoxo

  32. Kenya G. Johnson says

    How sweet. I think if they are that close now, they always will be. I love that you heard that little exchange from the backseat. I know it warmed your heart.

    It’s so wonderful to see when siblings are friends. Christopher has some twins on his basketball time and they obviously do not like each other. They also played with him at football. My husband and I did the football pictures and when it was their turn they did not want to take a picture together. I’ve never seen anything like that with twins. I was shocked. I guess it’s a myth that twins are BFFs.

    • Janine says

      I guess it is a twins fallacy indeed, but most twins I knew did get along. However, I knew one set in high school that truly were not fans of each other and that is what you reminded me of this morning with your comment.

  33. Caryn says

    Such a beautiful story, but even more important is that your girls are intuitive and thoughtful. I wonder if they will remember this when they are older. I have a younger sister and don’t remember any lessons I might have taught her…more so the things I “made her do.”

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