FRIENDS FOR LIFE

By Dr. James David

            We’ve just returned from a spirited week in the Florida Keys with my two brothers and sister and their spouses. Whenever we told anyone that the eight of us were vacationing together, the response was very positive with some amazed and awed that we were all good friends with one another. I remember when our father died the four of us went to the funeral home to make the arrangements. The funeral director told us that he had never worked with such a cooperative family.

As might be expected, in my psychotherapy work I frequently hear of hostile sibling relationships. I became curious about what percentage of adult siblings have friendly, supportive sibling relationships and the percentage that have apathetic or hostile sibling relationships.

Researchers at Oakland University surveyed people ages 18 to 65 and arrived at these percentages:

— 26 percent were highly supportive with frequent contact and low competitiveness;

— 39 percent were friendly and supportive with no clear measure or definition of this group. There is some skepticism about this percentage as it is self-reported and could include denial to avoid embarrassment.

— 19 percent were apathetic with no real motivation to interact.

— 16 percent were hostile, having deep hurt and intense anger.

In aggregate, these numbers show almost two-thirds of adult sibling relationships are friendly and supportive, while just over one-third are apathetic or hostile. A relatively small number of family social science research studies address adult sibling relationships. More research is needed. The majority of research studies focus on husband-wife and parent-child relationships.

Friends for Life

            Although we may repress and deny our innate or inborn need or desire to be positively connected with our adult siblings, the gnawing in our heart doesn’t go away. Let’s address several steps or strategies to get better connected with our brothers and sisters.

  • Getting Motivated: The obvious first step is deciding that it’s a good idea to have a healthy relationship with our siblings. The idea is that if we have hardness in our heart for one person, that hardness may get generalized to other persons. It’s much healthier to be at peace with everyone and everything.

We also need to examine whether we have “notional assent” or “real

assent” to developing and maintaining a positive relationship with our siblings. We must be like Yoda in Star Wars: “Try not!  Do or do not!  There is no try!” Trying is for adolescents. As adults, we become impotent when we say we’ll “try.” We assume a powerful stance when we decide to do or not do.

  • Forgiveness: Family hurt is deep, penetrating hurt. And hurt can occur in so many different forms or scenarios. Grandparents who unwittingly favor one family of grandchildren over other grandchildren spark intense hurt and resentment. One sibling receiving more monetary help from the parents than the other children sparks ill will, contributing to animosity among siblings. Superhuman understanding is needed to retain positive relationships.

C.S. Lewis wisely wrote, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until we have something to forgive.” At www.positivemotivation.net we find, ”To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and realize the prisoner is me.” My favorite quote on this subject is, “The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.”

Research reveals that adult sibling rivalry, discord and animosity are reduced when each sibling has accomplished career success and fulfillment. Such accomplishment generally coincides with the strength that comes from self-valuing and self-acceptance.

  • The Journey: Forgiveness also entails a gradual process or journey as well as a distinct decision or commitment.  Murray Bowen, considered by many to be the world’s foremost family therapy theoretician, proposes a long-term stance (might be 10 years or longer) of extending love or civility toward one’s siblings without expecting, needing or demanding any type of reciprocation. This is a tall order! But, of course, the rewards for the entire extended family are worth this herculean, heroic stance. Weekly contact is ideal.

The journey toward connecting reminds me of Erma Bombeck’s

hilarious reflection “treat friends and kids the same.” If we’re called to treat our friends with courtesy, dignity and diplomacy, we need to treat our children and adult siblings with those same qualities.

In my own family, though our three children and seven grandchildren are all very different and live in different parts of the country, we make it a point to have one family beach vacation together every Summer. We also gather as much as possible for holidays. It gives us a chance to reconnect with each other, to laugh about all our growing-up experiences and to share who we are today. My wife and I love these times together and hope it will keep us closer as the years pass by.

Final Thoughts

            Another broader perspective is my hunch that adult sibling alienation may be part of the societal trend away from valuing extended family relationships. Fifteen years ago Robert D. Putnam researched this trend in his blockbuster book, Bowling Alone. More recently, in Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, Putnam addresses a similar manifestation of societal rugged individualism.

My other hunch is that creeping social isolation brought about by technology, where we immerse ourselves in our electronic games, smartphones, iPads, Kindles, T.V., etc. Of course, technology is a two-sided coin. We may use it to connect with friends and family or isolate ourselves from them. I’m sure you’ve noticed that younger people prefer texting to talking. We need to take advantage of this technology to connect with our siblings.

When we stop to think about it, we only have our parents for a limited number of years, but our siblings are with us for most of our lives. It seems tragic to not stay connected with those with whom we have shared our childhood. Although our siblings can hurt us deeply and quickly, staying alienated has serious negative emotional ramifications for ourselves and our entire extended family. Please keep in mind that when we forgive we give a gift to ourselves. Adam Hamilton has a book, Finding Peace through Letting Go. I also recommend The Way to Love by Anthony De Mello, a meditative journey filled with transformation.

When was the last time you spoke with your brother or sister? Is it time to pick up that phone and connect with one another? You are family. It is wise and healthy to be there for one another, now and always. Friends for life.

Dr. Jim David is a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in Silver Spring. Visit his website at www.askdrdavidnow.com or email at [email protected]

 

 

 

 

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