April 10th is National Siblings Day! Love ‘em or hate ‘em, our brothers and sisters play important roles in shaping our life experiences. Sometimes they’re our best friends, and sometimes they “accidentally” kick a hole in your parents’ wall and try to pin the blame on you (my brother knows who he is).
National Siblings Day was established by Claudia Evart in honor of her late siblings, Alan and Lisette. Claudia enjoyed an active childhood with her brother and sister, and her appreciation for them only grew after their untimely deaths at young ages. Today, she leads the Siblings Day Foundation which seeks to promote the holiday and to reunite siblings who have been separated through circumstances beyond their control.
In the spirit of family ties, I asked my husband Jonathan to recap the pros and cons of growing up with his younger sister, Kathryn. “The best part about having a sibling is that you will have the opportunity to grow up with someone who shares your unique familial experiences,” he said. “The worst part of having a sibling is that when you’re young, you will undoubtedly get into petty arguments. My sister was always running to Mom and Dad trying to get me in trouble!”
Siblings are sources of endless entertainment when we’re young and, if we’re lucky, they evolve into our greatest supporters. We look to them for style advice, relationship tips, and general stability. When everything in life seems to change so rapidly that we can barely make sense of it all, our siblings are a source of comfort and familiarity.
Here, we’ll highlight a few noteworthy sets of siblings and their stories!
Chance the Rapper and Taylor Bennett
Chancelor “Chance the Rapper” Bennet grew up in Chicago along with his younger brother, Taylor Bennett. His 2016 mixtape, Coloring Book, won three Grammy Awards including the award for Best Rap Album. While Chance rose to fame, Taylor was busy building a music career of his own. Taylor has since released his own successful mixtapes and albums and has even performed as the opening act for his idol, Nas. That’s one way to make your sibling jealous!
Brennan Huff and Dale Doback
Okay, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly aren’t really siblings, but they play them in Step Brothers! Fictional bros Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are full-grown men who are hilariously lacking in maturity. When Brennan’s divorced mother and Dale’s widowed father fall in love, the “boys” are forced to set aside their differences and settle into step-brotherhood. What’s better than building makeshift bunk beds with your stepbrother? There’s SO much room for activities.
Venus and Serena Williams
Richard Williams was idly channel-surfing from his home in Long Beach, California one day when a broadcast of the French Open caught his eye. He sat up a little straighter when he heard that the winner would take home a staggering $40,000 prize. In that moment, he vowed to raise a tennis player. To his delight, two of his daughters would go on to absolutely crush it in the tennis world. Venus and Serena Williams have won a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles. In playing doubles together, they’ve collected 14 Grand Slam titles, four Olympic gold medals, and too many fond sisterly memories to count.
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell and Finneas Baird O’Connell (or just Billie and Finneas, as you may know them) grew up in a house full of music. Their mother’s songwriting class inspired them to learn the mechanics of music as children, and the two have been writing, singing, and performing together ever since. Billie and Finneas have each gone on to win Grammy awards, but that doesn’t mean they’re exempt from embarrassing childhood stories. In an interview with Brut Media, Finneas recalls reaching his arm “into [Billie’s] esophagus” to retrieve a marble that she’d swallowed as a toddler. “I saved her life,” he said.
Mary-Kate, Ashley, and Elizabeth Olsen
Twin sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen kicked off their acting careers by taking turns playing the role of Michelle Tanner on the hit sitcom Full House. In the 1990s and 2000s, the adorable Olsen twins’ faces could be found on television, in movies, on clothes, on shoes, on perfumes, on magazine covers…you get the picture! Elizabeth, the twins’ younger sister, hopped on the celebrity bandwagon in 2011 when she starred in the award-winning Martha Marcy May Marlene. Her popularity continues to grow as she portrays the lead role in WandaVision.
How to Celebrate National Siblings Day
You don’t have to share biological ancestors with someone to call them a brother or sister. Sometimes life events unite us with friends who evolve into something more like relatives. Who do you consider to be your brothers and sisters? What makes them important to you?
Celebrate National Siblings Day by doing something kind for your brother or sister, telling them that you appreciate them, or giving them a small gift! Need ideas? Let them know that you miss them with a long-distance beaded bracelet, or make them laugh with this sibling-approved Steven Rhodes t shirt.
Sure, maybe they know way too much about your boy band phase. They’re still your sibling, and they’ll always have your back.
