What is a little sister?
She is placed in your tiny arms after nine months of waiting,
and at the age of two and a half, you don’t think your tiny body can support the weight of her future.
She receives all the attention you were once showered with.
She’s your real-life baby doll, but mommy says this one’s much more fragile.
She is so soft but also kinda fuzzy on top. You never thought anything could be smaller than you.
She’s always the servant when you play princess, or the baby when you play house.
She’s mistaken for your twin all the time.
She falls down and scraps her knee,
and when mommy’s not around, you’re there to dust off the dirt.
She learns so much from you. You realize you have to teach her right from wrong.
She looks up to you.
She wants to be just like her big sister.
She won’t stop following you around. You wish she’d leave you and your friends alone.
She cries because you say you don’t want to play baby games anymore, you’re much too mature for that.
She’s distraught because she feels like she’s losing her friend.
You fight constantly. Lots of
Kicking.
Hair pulling.
Screaming.
But,
she always comes back.
She says you’re her best friend.
She doesn’t get mistaken as your twin now, but you know on the inside you’re identical.
She takes your clothes without asking.
She still does your bidding even though you haven’t played princess in years.
She asks you what to wear because your fashion sense is superior.
She sits patiently as you do her makeup for all the high school dances.
She cries because her homework is sometimes too much to handle.
She feels like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.
She is expected to do so much she couldn’t possibly succeed.
She gets sick a lot and you wonder how after 18 years she could still be so fragile.
She laughs at all your dumb jokes that no one else would understand.
She looks out into the crowd of people as she moves her tassel from right to left.
She never thought she’d make it this far. But you knew.
You hold back melancholy tears.
Your baby sister isn’t a baby anymore.
She’s becoming your role model.
She astonishes you every day with her kindness, creativity, and grace.
She’s the moon to your sun.
She’s your life-long best friend.
She’ll stay with you until the very end.
Caitlin,
I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, but don’t stop now. Your whole life is waiting for you. You must let yourself be open to all its possibilities. A wise person once said that, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” So, set sail on your next adventure. And remember, I’ll always be waiting for you at the shore. Never be scared, because you will always have your big sis to lean back on.
Love,
Your Sun ☀️