Letter #8 — Taking Care of Your Siblings: Why Family Bonds Matter

Dear children,

I wanted to write this letter after something that happened at your tennis lesson.

You were playing a game where everyone had to run from one side of the court to the other, while a “villain” stood at the service line and tried to hit the runners with a tennis ball. If you were hit, you had to join the villain team.

What surprised us was that when one of you became the villain, you didn’t target other children, instead, you threw the ball at your own sibling. When your brother or sister was hit, they joined you on the service line, and then together you continued aiming at each other.

At first, we had a good chuckle and assumed it’s because maybe you didn’t want to upset other kids in the group by hitting them or accidently hurting them. But as the pattern continued and you lot kept taking out your siblings, it just made us reflect on something deeper which is what I will discuss next!

Why Family Bonds Matter

Ok children, I want you to remember this advice: in life, you will always face challenges. This is a fact and it has to happen. You will also have arguments with each other unfortunately. But just remind yourselves that no matter what or how hard it may feel, you must always stick together. And here is why:

Your siblings are your built-in support network which means that no matter how much you bicker or remember each other’s faults (“he did this,” “she did that,” “remember last year when…”), none of those little things really matter in the end.

When life gets tough, it’s your brothers and sisters who will always put time aside for you. Friends may come and go. Strangers won’t care (harsh but true). But siblings (if you nurture those bonds) will stand beside you through thick and thin.

Focus on Strengths, Not Faults

It’s easy to notice the traits that annoys you about each other but that’s a negative way of looking at things. Why don’t you instead focus on the similarities, and even more importantly, on how your differences can become strengths.

Think of it this way:

• One of your weaknesses may be a sibling’s strength.
• One of your strengths may cover their weakness.

Recognising these differences/similarities can make you unstoppable in life e.g. If you ever decide to do something big together e.g. start a business or work on a project , you would create such a strong unit together. Just look at the Candy brothers or the Barclays brothers. You see my point 🙂

Learn Patience and Forgiveness

Let’s look at the concept of unconditional love shall we? This feeling has a deep meaning to it and you will always hold it between family members. It means that no matter what, you always have that connection with that person. e.g. if one of you falls over and cuts your knee, then the rest of you feel that pain. You also feel worried and want us to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

On the other side of this love, you will see that you wont always get along or agree in something with your siblings. That person may be having a bad day and an argument had taken place. But in those moments, don’t attack or hold grudges against each other. Instead, it’s best to be patient with that person and give them space to calm down. Or better yet, why don’t you find a way to cheer them up — maybe with their favourite food, say a kind word, or take them on a trip to somewhere they love.

This is how you become a support system for one another, instead of opponents on the same court.

👉 Psychologists say strong sibling relationships help children develop better emotional intelligence, resilience, and mental health throughout life (American Psychological Association).

A Lifelong Lesson

As parents, we’ve seen this truth proven again and again: when everything else fades, it is family that remains. Siblings are not your rivals, they are your allies for life.

So, my advice is simple: love one another, forgive quickly, and stand together. That unity will give you a strength the world cannot break.

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Now that you know what to do — go apply it.

You’ll learn faster, grow stronger, and feel prouder every time you practise.

And if you’d like help getting started — we’ve made something special for you.✨
Sibling Support & Forgiveness Pack — with activities to help you build stronger family bonds, learn patience, and grow together.

👉 [Click here to download your Sibling Pack]

Love you lots,
Mum and Dad