created by tededison2001 on 24/02/2025 at 20:44 UTC
139 upvotes, 431 top-level comments (showing 25)
Many siblings do not get along as kids, but become friends as they get older. What is this relationship like like after 40, do they tend to stay friends or do other conflicts happen?
Comment by AutoModerator at 24/02/2025 at 20:44 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Please do not comment directly to this post unless you are Gen X or older (born 1980 or before). See this post[1], the rules, and the sidebar for details. Thank you for your submission, tededison2001.
2: /message/compose/?to=/r/AskOldPeople
Comment by Paranoid_Sinner at 24/02/2025 at 20:59 UTC
131 upvotes, 7 direct replies
I'll be 75 this year, my two sisses will be 78 and 84. We were always close, but since our parents died (2000 and 2002) we've gotten even closer.
Comment by socal1959 at 24/02/2025 at 20:59 UTC
137 upvotes, 9 direct replies
Non existent
Comment by Lacylanexoxo at 24/02/2025 at 21:10 UTC
68 upvotes, 2 direct replies
My brother has always been amazing. When he was about 5 the barber gave him a sucker. He wouldn't take it unless he gave one for me too. The barber evidently laughed thinking it was a scam. Mom said no that he always shared with me. 45 yrs later he's the best.
Comment by modernhedgewitch at 24/02/2025 at 20:55 UTC
55 upvotes, 2 direct replies
My brother and his family are part of my Circle of friends that gets together most weekends. He's one of my best friends.
Comment by dagmara56 at 24/02/2025 at 21:10 UTC
50 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Half sister was a horrible person and behaved badly while My father was dying. My mother decided she had enough of my sister's bad behavior so my mother cut off all communication with half sister and I did as well.
My mother had been in a memory care facility for two years, she hadn't remembered who I was during that time. I was just the nice lady who visited her every week and brought her stuff. One day she was trying to remember a woman's name. I mentioned my sister's name. It was like a switch had been flipped. She looked so lucid and mentioned my name (which she hadn't recognized me for two years) and said 'forget your sister (her name) exists. I don't want to hear (her name) again." Then back to her dementia self. It was so chilling that she remembered my half sister. I took it as a sign that it's best to stay away from her.
Comment by Which-Neat4524 at 24/02/2025 at 20:56 UTC
39 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Non existent. I have a sister who is 7 years older and it feels like we are 35 years apart. She is a boomer and I'm GenX. Never got along growing up and it got worse over the years.
Comment by Theologicaltacos at 24/02/2025 at 20:53 UTC
54 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Dude used to bully me until I ran away at sixteen. May never speak to him again. Which is still too soon..
Comment by Silentg423 at 24/02/2025 at 21:24 UTC
25 upvotes, 1 direct replies
My sister started insulting me as young as five years old. It continued well into my 50s once she started insulting my daughter and Husband that’s when I broke my relationship with her. It’s funny how I tolerated the abuse when it was me. Once it crept up with my family. I could not take it anymore.
Comment by IMTrick at 24/02/2025 at 20:48 UTC
24 upvotes, 2 direct replies
My brother and I fought constantly as kids. It took me a long time to figure out he's actually a pretty cool guy. We're half a country apart these days and neither of us is good with phones so we don't talk much, but we always have a good time when we're in the same place together.
Comment by KismetMeetsKarma at 24/02/2025 at 20:58 UTC
18 upvotes, 0 direct replies
We were just discussing this with our friends. Many said once their mothers die, they tend to stop seeing there siblings if they were never close to them, as they only socialised together for their parents sake. Once their parents died, particularly their mothers, nobody bothered organising family get togethers any more.
A lot of siblings have little in common apart front having the same parents , and move in their own circles so it makes sense.
My eldest sister was always the Golden Child who relentlessly bullied the four of us younger sisters so none of us even know where she lives now, in the twenty years since our mother died.
I still hang with two of my younger sisters and talk to the sister between the oldest and myself ( middle child) online and on the phone, we live in different states so rarely see one another.
The two youngest live within reasonable travelling distance so we see one another regularly, usually not all three together though, due to different work schedules, one works nights as a nurse.
Comment by whatevertoad at 24/02/2025 at 21:08 UTC
14 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If there's any inheritance to be had it becomes down right toxic, at least in my situation. I didn't realize how insane and actually criminal my sibling was until then. No contact.
Comment by penelopejoe at 24/02/2025 at 21:09 UTC
13 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Can't stand that narcissistic a$hat! He was brutally mean as a kid and he behaves like a toddler, banging on his highchair when he doesn't get his way and calling people names when he's mad. His lack of respect for me is simply too much to deal with anymore (not quite 60, he's 62). I refuse to put up with his $hit and I catch myself when I start to feel sorry for him because he's never been married, no kids, so...no family of his own. Gee, I wonder why 🤔
Comment by hrwinter14 at 24/02/2025 at 21:31 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
My sister and oldest brother have a group text chat to report our daily Wordle results.
Comment by typhoidmarry at 24/02/2025 at 20:59 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I’ve got 4 older brothers. One is god squad and we text maybe every few years. Two live in my hometown-I text one every month or so the other one I only text during hockey season Oldest brother, I might comment on FB a few times a year.
Not much of a relationship at all. I’m good with that.
They were all so much older when I grew up that we didn’t “grow up” together, they were grown by the time I was in grade school. They’re more like uncles.
Comment by 60s_girlie at 24/02/2025 at 21:09 UTC
12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I do not talk to them and they do not talk to me. We have no relationship and that suits me just fine.
Comment by Reverse-Recruiterman at 24/02/2025 at 21:05 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
OMG! Our relationship is amazing. I was such a pain in the butt when I was growing up. My siblings were so patient with me and now as an adult, I can help my nieces and nephews in ways they don't know how to do.I relish it any opportunity to see them and love them dearly.
My brother, closest an age who happens to be the one I fought with the most is probably tightest with me right now.
Comment by nihilt-jiltquist at 24/02/2025 at 21:27 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
having great adult friends is wonderful compensation for growing up with shitty siblings...
Comment by LopsidedSwimming8327 at 24/02/2025 at 21:40 UTC
9 upvotes, 3 direct replies
A lot depends on who they marry tbh
Comment by AZPeakBagger at 24/02/2025 at 20:51 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Relationships with all of my siblings is pretty nonexistent. See one every year at Christmas for a lunch date. Another that I text with about 2-3 times a year and one I have seen not heard from in about a decade.
Comment by Flashy_Woodpecker_11 at 24/02/2025 at 20:55 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Since parents died, we don’t see each other much. Funerals and weddings
Comment by mutant6399 at 24/02/2025 at 20:51 UTC
12 upvotes, 1 direct replies
cordial but distant
I'm so glad that my kids get along great with each other.
Comment by Boss-of-You at 24/02/2025 at 20:53 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Haven't spoken to him since my mother's death. That was 20 years ago.
Comment by Rlyoldman at 24/02/2025 at 20:53 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I think separation is an ok thing. Our parents are gone now along with one brother. We three remaining brothers are scattered around so we don’t really see each other. But we call and text each other at least once a month. We are who remain.
Comment by MrMarquis at 24/02/2025 at 21:00 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It's great. One of my sisters passed away last year and I miss her very much. I still have 2 sisters left and we talk frequently and get together as much as possible.