In honor of National Brother & Sister Appreciation Day, I wanted to take the time to write about my little sister, Hallie.
As sisters, we’ve grown up a little differently than most siblings, as we have nearly 10 years between us. Because of this, sometimes I have felt more like her parent than a big sister. However, I also feel that this has made our bond incredibly unique and special. While I was in high school, I felt like it was so uncool to have to pick my sister up from school, but looking back, it was a great experience that I was the one to see her after school and hang out with her.
Once I went to college, I feel like this helped us bond more – by having space. When you’re a moody teenager (me) and a little kid that just wants to spend time with your SUPER COOL sister (her), there’s a bit of conflict that happens. But going to college was the best for us and when I would get home for breaks, we would get food and hang out once or twice. We talked about middle school and middle school drama – as it’s the worst – and once I moved back home, I saw her every day and got to check in with her on her transition into high school!
As a high school teacher at my alma mater for 4 years, I had the opportunity to be at her school for her first couple of years of high school, be her advisor teacher, and be her high school bowling coach all four years. While some students would think this would be awkward, we got to see each other every day (until she started driving and missing our morning hang out time, rude). When the pandemic started and we weren’t seeing each other every day, I remember calling her a week in and just telling her “I miss you.” I remember checking in with her once a week, just to see how she was doing. When the following school year began fully online, she helped me set up my Google Meet and check my technology set up. Then I moved to a different school. I remember calling her and asking her if she would be okay without me at her school and that I would stay with her, if she needed. She obviously said no, but I continued to check in on her.
Although I was at a different school for her last two years of high school, I was able to be her high school bowling coach for all four years. This has been one of the highlights of our relationship, where her sophomore year, she won as the individual state champion and her senior year, our team was able to win the state team championship. Being known as the sister-duo, winning state championships is a fun recognition that you don’t hear about too often – at least with the coach and athlete dynamic.
Before she graduated, we were able to get our sister tattoos that we had been talking about for the last 4 years. Our tattoos are on our forearms, where we each got each other’s birth month flower with each other’s handwriting in the stems with the word “sister.” It’s my favorite tattoo that I have and I love telling people that it is my sister’s handwriting on my arm!
As a graduation gift to her, my husband and I took her to Maui for a week. This trip was our first big trip with Hazel (at one and a half). We had an absolute blast experiencing the beach, eating good food, going on tours, taking Hazel to the urgent room for the first time (she fell off a bench onto concrete), and seeing turtles!
Now that she’s graduated high school, she goes to college at a local school – so I still get to see her regularly and she gets to be a fun auntie to my daughter and future son. I always feel a sense of pride when telling people that she is going to school to become an elementary school teacher, as both me and her are first generation college kids.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her and seeing her continue to grow into adult life.
Happy National Sister Appreciation Day Hallie – love you <3
