What does it mean when your children are grown and living on
their own but you still stock Blue G2, Smuckers PB&J’s, Hershey’s chocolate
syrup and whole milk? You randomly pick
up girlie stickers, paint brushes and High School Musical games? You might just be a Big Sister like me.
Raising my three boys, there were definite gaps in my teen
girl IQ. My little sister is educating me. I know the words to every Taylor
Swift song. I am knowledgeable about all things Monster High. I have someone to
try out crafts and art projects with. I have my own sous-chef and baker’s
assistant. I have an enthusiastic tennis and racquetball partner.
My little sister looks up to my boys and often asks where
they are and how they are doing. When they are home for the weekend she wants
to stay for dinner and quiz their girlfriends about relationships, in a way
only she can. She wonders what my husband is doing when he’s not home. She even
got over her fear of cats and jokes around with Miss Pearl.
In my family, we each have a drawer (called our “nook”) on
the first floor where we can throw our junk, so my little sister has her own
drawer at my house. It is full of pictures, games, art supplies, puzzles, scrapbooking
materials, and any odds and ends (think pinecones and ribbon) I deem of
possible interest to a creative young woman. There is a piece of blue tulle in
there, and she regularly wraps it around her head or waist and becomes a DJ or
Karaoke star.
We are into our fourth years as BBBS matches. I know I am
becoming more a part of her life because she wants me attend her choir concerts
and calls me up to let me know she got First at her bowling tournament. Her big
sister before me died at a young age (my age), and she speaks of her often. We
spent one afternoon locating her marker at the cemetery, and have been back
once more to visit. Sometimes people ask me how long I plan on being a Big
Sister. My little sister is 13, so my math says in five more years she will be 18.
I’m all in if she is.
