On your search for friends who can accept your authentic self, keep in mind – other people are looking for the same thing. Last Updated: April 18, 2020 In many respects, a good sibling relationship is like a friendship. Step 1 Project the calmness you'd like to see in your relationship. Do not offer unsolicited advice and do not show up at her home without an invitation. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. You might say something like “I want to see what I can do be a better sibling to you. During your time together, tell her how much she means to you, and that you want to be a better sibling. Are you jealous of your sister? She might not always want to attend, but she will appreciate the invitation. This article has been viewed 65,683 times. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Remember some of the fun (and not-so-fun) times from childhood. I hope that as I encourage positive sibling relationships, the kids will have a greater sense of unity between them so that working through challenges becomes a better experience for all of us. 7 Ways To Improve Your Relationship With Your Sister 1. “It's no secret that brothers and sisters emulate one another or that the learning flows both up and down the age ladder”, says Jeffrey Kluger author of The New Science of Siblings for Time magazine. If you treat your relationship with your sister as a friendship, you will become closer. Take it slowly, and accept that she doesn’t have to return the effort – it’s up to her to make the decision. To build or strengthen a relationship with anyone, particularly our siblings, we must actively choose to act in a loving manner towards them, regardless of the circumstance. I’d love to know what you think could be better so I can work on it!” For some great ways to keep your friendship with your sister strong, read on! This can be a small, everyday task, such as cleaning the living room, or it might be a big once in a lifetime activity, such as planning a special birthday party for a parent or another sibling. For instance, if your family always treated her as someone who was only good at sports, make a point of complimenting her recent promotion at work or on her latest creative endeavor. 2. Share your views about each other, and get a fresh perspective about yourself . Mending your relationship won't happen overnight, but you can take baby-steps in the right direction. Like friendships and romantic relationships, sibling relationships require ongoing check-ins to make sure everyone’s needs are being met. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. By using our site, you agree to our. A sister-sister relationship is special in many ways. Let me correct myself I have an elder sister. Make a conscious effort to forgive these childhood misdeeds and they’ll soon be water under the Ponte Vecchio. Here are some tips for repairing the relationship: Put yourself in their shoes and have compassion Maybe your sibling is suffering on the inside and takes their frustration, anger, or sadness out on those around them. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. You offer your friends plenty of support, so why not extend the same treatment to your sister? See if there is some bigger problem with behaviour/history here + how could you work on that. While there's not much you can do to keep your sister from flying off the handle at the slightest mention that she should reconsider her decision to let her 10-year-old watch "The Exorcist," you can resist the urge to reflect her anger, sadness or other negative emotions. As us South Asians know, when one party in the family is having difficulties, the rest of the family experiences the turmoil as well. Listening is one way to show respect for each other, and respect is essential to building good relationships, whether it’s between friends, partners, or siblings. One of you is a giver, the other a taker. It is okay to disagree. 2. The whole point is to establish common ground, affirm, and validate them, and show them you’re truly invested in building a better relationship with them. Follow her on social media -- you will be able to see how she presents herself and her interests, who her friends are, and how she sees her place in the world. You can still be a loving, supportive relative from a distance as she lives her own life. If your relationship is unbalanced, it’s inevitable that one or both of you will end up feeing resentful. She might be a relative, but that doesn’t mean you should take her for granted. To build strong family relationships, listen actively to each other. advertisement. For some great ways to keep your friendship with your sister strong, read on! Take a trip together. A breakup is a perfect time to remind your sister what an amazing catch she is. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. For example, do not call your sister at random hours of the day or night if she is a private, reserved person. Don’t just call or write when you want a favor! How to improve your relationship with your sister 1. There’s no guarantee that you and your sister will ever be best friends, but there are lots of things you can do to strengthen your bond. I was dressed completely wrong for that party and I had a terrible time. % of people told us that this article helped them. 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