A friendship with your sister can be one of the most fruitful relationships in your life and well worth nurturing. However, it's not uncommon for siblings to drift apart or for tensions to arise in their relationship. If you're feeling like your relationship with your sister needs some TLC, consider the following tips on how to forge a deeper bond with her:
Try your best to analyze your relationship with your sister in an honest way. What about your current relationship is strong, and what needs working on? How often are you two in contact? How do you feel when you interact with your sister?
By taking a look at these aspects of your relationship, you will have a better idea of how you can work to strengthen the bond between you and your sister.
Do you and your sister have any unresolved disagreements? Is this straining your relationship in some way? Even if the tension feels minuscule, it can eventually fester into resentment if it goes unaddressed. It may feel uncomfortable and even nerve-racking, but taking the time to initiate a conversation with your sister about this conflict is important. Not only will you keep that tension from developing into resentment, but you will also have an opportunity to connect on a deeper level with her.
Remember: try to go about this in the most constructive way possible. Your sister may have hurt you in the past, but it may be that you have hurt her, too. Rather than placing the blame entirely on her, consider how you may have also faltered in the relationship. Own up to your mistakes.
Ultimately, your sister will always be your sister. A conversation like this may be difficult and can stir up some unpleasant memories and feelings, but in the end, your sibling-bond will prevail.
Consistent communication is key in maintaining and strengthening your bond with your sister. Perhaps you tend to text each other frequently but chat on the phone less. Or you hardly communicate at all.
Start by checking in regularly. Send her a text at least weekly. A simple "How are you?" can work wonders, but take it farther by bringing up a topic that you both have a connection to. For example, if you know that she is an avid cook, send her a good recipe you recently made! If she likes movies, ask her opinion on a recent flick you watched.
In addition to texting, it's important to have verbal conversations over the phone or, if you're lucky enough to live in the same area, in person. Life can get busy, and initiating a lengthy phone call or a lunch date can often escape you. However, committing to at least a couple of phone calls or meetups a month will surely deepen the bond with your sister. You want to make sure that you're engaging with her and are aware of what's happening in her life.
Make sure that you're offering your support whenever your sister confides in you or if you see that she is experiencing any kind of struggle. By being there for her, she will know that she is safe with you when she is most vulnerable. Furthermore, that feeling of safety will be reciprocated when you confide in her and accept her support. A relationship with your sister is a two-way street: you both need to give and take.
Like in any friendship, simply having fun with your sister is key to forging a deeper bond with her. Create memorable experiences with her that you both can reminisce about with amusement. If you live in the same area as her, plan an activity that goes beyond a lunch or dinner date. Do something you both enjoy: go on a hike, go bowling, attend a BYOB painting class, etc. If you live far apart, make an effort to plan a trip to see each other at least once a year or consider taking a vacation together! Nothing beats sitting on a beach and relaxing when you're trying to strengthen your sibling bond.
