I find it so odd that two people can be raised in the exact same environment and turn out so differently/ have opposing characteristics. What is something you and your sibling are opposite about? My parents and I are very punctual and reliable. If we say we will be somewhere at certain time- we are there and we are there early.
My brother is a year older than me and he has become a total flake. He either shows up 2 hours late or not at all, without even a call. My grandma just called me devastated because he was supposed to bring his new baby to visit her on Sunday. She bought all this food and he was a no show no call. And he doesn't have valid reasons or excuses because I see on his facebook that he's just out playing basketball with his buddies or something like that. He is selfish with his time and never shows up to obligations (like family Christmas) and I have no idea where he got this from since the rest of us are not like that!
Re: Sibling differences
My brother will probably be fine once he matures a bit (he's 23 and kind of an irresponsible dumbass). He's already drinking and partying less than he used to, and he's finally managed to hold down a job for a year. I want him to succeed.
But my stepsister... whoo. She is a grade-A beeyotch. She has made Dad cry on multiple occasions because of her selfishness and greed. She refused to come to his wedding to my mother because he wouldn't give her several thousand dollars to buy a camper. All she wants from him is money and nothing is ever good enough. I hope that when she looks back on her life she does not end up regretting how much she has hurt and alienated him.
Don't get me wrong, I love my brother and he can be a cool person sometimes. I'm just a little exasperated with his shenanigans.
That's when we changed. My sister went from dorms then moved back home. Her first time living outside of the home/dorms was when we bought a 2-flat together. She had a roommate to begin and had a boyfriend (now husband) move in when she left. She's never left our home city, lived on her own, or made any "crazy" decisions. She works a job that she doesn't like in order to pay the bills, has a husband, a toddler, and still lives in the 2-flat (a huge source of contention, btw). My sister talks about taking classes, changes jobs/industries, having more kids, moving, helping with anything, etc.- but always has endless reasons why she can't do anything. As my aunt/officiant once said, for my sister, getting married was her big life success.
I went to the big university, have lived in 5 cities, quit an amazing career to move for a competitive full-time grad program, and have lived with multiple people while searching for that person I wanted to live with forever. I'm very career focused and, while I want a kid, I wanted to wait until my career was established. I'm the responsible daughter who helps my family and FI's family, I take care of my grandmother for my parents, and just gets shit done. My mom's the oldest of her generation of cousins and the person that everyone goes to with drama/issues/etc. I'm the oldest of my generation (by a full minute!) and (according to aunts and cousins) have taken on the same role, something I'm very proud of, though I'm probably a fool for taking it on!
My sister feels responsibility for her husband and daughter but not towards the rest of the family. However, she is comfortable leaning on the entire family for everything. I'm much more independent but feel responsible to my family and behave accordingly. I love my life but her life is much easier and much less stressful.
She actually tried arguing with me over whether a particular type of illegal activity is still ongoing in the health industry- shes a doctor in a small city in CA next to a wealthy coastal area, and im an atttorney who civilly litigates/prosecutes the very activity she claims no longer happens. Its unreal.
I always write thank you notes, she never does and unfortunately my nieces are picking up that bad behavior.
Brother and I have different lives, but get along ok. He did have a honeymoon registry. Gag.
Mom and her brother are very different. He's also got the anti thank you note bug and has given it to his daughter. Hes also a nitpicking must always be right pain. They live on opposite ends of the country for a reason
Since we were young I have been more cautious and boring. I hate that about myself but it has made me more "sucessful" I have lived a pretty typical life. 4 year degree, house, car kids and marriage (not all in typical order)
He is outgoing, charismatic and fun loving. He is pretty self centerd though. He has lofty goals with no path to completion. He dropped out of HS and got a GED because he was bored. And has since worked miscellaneous jobs and partied. He is now 24 and starting to settle down. He still acts like hanging out with family is a hassle. But I think that is partially because he feels everyone is disappointed in him.
We kind of look alike. You can tell we are related even though our features are quite different. (why did he get the blue eyes and not me!)
Sister is athletic, outdoors, loves fashion, rationalizes problems, is very social, impulsive, shopping is recreation.
I am a bookworm, creative, research before making decisions, conservative (not politically), confront problems, love museums and travel, HATE shoe shopping.
We seldom had conflicts as children because I wasn't interested in her dolls, and she wasn't interested in my books. She has had problems with jealousy, though.