I’m an only child. I always begged for a brother or sister. My parents gave me a puppy. Susie was the closest thing I had to a sibling. I loved her dearly, and I guess she was a sister substitute, except I didn’t have to share my clothes.  

Some siblings, I suppose, turn into best friends. Some probably disappear from your life. Others might best be forgotten. Whatever the case, siblings generate stories.

Use the following prompts to help you tell them:

Name your brothers and sisters and tell when and where they were born.

Where do you fit in the birth order?

Did either of your parents have children from a previous marriage? Who? Did these children become part of your family? In what ways was this easy—difficult?

If you have younger siblings, tell a story about what it was like having a new baby around the house.

Tell a story about taking care of a younger sibling.

Tell a story about an older sibling taking care of you.

Tell a story about sibling rivalry.

Tell a story about sibling love.

Tell a story about arguing, or even fighting, with your siblings.

Was there a family favorite? Who? Why? Tell a story about how you and your other siblings reacted to this favoritism?

Did any of your siblings die an untimely death? What happened? How did your family cope?

React to the following quote from an unknown source, “Sometimes I wonder how you put up with me. Then I remember: OH! I put up with you, so we’re even!”

Tell a story about you and your siblings getting into trouble.

Tell a story about family mealtime. Did you each have a special seat at the table? Were you required to clean your plates? What happened when you were served food you didn’t want to eat?

Tell a story about tattling on a sibling.

Tell a story about a sibling tattling on you.

Tell a story about your family’s “black sheep.”

Tell a story about your family’s “golden child.”

Tell a story about sharing the bathroom, your room, your clothes, your “stuff.”

If a sibling has passed, when did he or she die? What was the cause of death? Where is he or she buried.

Tell a story about what each sibling means to you today and how he/she influenced your life.

If a genie were to pop out of her bottle and grant you one wish for each sibling, what would you wish?