Enjoyable Things To Do For Your Sister

Here's an article I wrote some time ago, which suggests ways we can encourage and build up our sisters. I wanted to revive it for Women's Day this year. So, whether she's your parents' daughter or a friend you've adopted as your sister, here are some ways to cheer her up.

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Sometimes growing up with siblings can be difficult, especially if our personalities seem to be the total opposite of each other’s.  In most cases we grow out of these disagreements, and as adults become best of friends. After all, this is only natural, as we’ll know our siblings for longer than we will know anyone else in our entire lives.

I wanted to write this article about sisters, because we generally allow ourselves to grow apart after we move away from home.  The strains that life puts on us, the responsibilities or career, marriage and kids, soon add up to conspire against us when it comes to spending time with our sisters.

How can we change this never-ending circle and let our sisters know that she still means the world to us? Here are some fabulous (inexpensive and expensive) ways to show her you still care, and that the years that have gone by have only made your love for her stronger.


Help strengthen your relationship with your sister

Get her to finally start something she’s been threatening to do for a long time

If it’s losing weight, help her by doing it with her, or by booking her into a weight-loss group. If she’s always been thinking of joining a gym but so far hasn’t gotten around to it, pay for her first two or three sessions.  If going running is what she intends to do, get her on her feet by buying her some great running shoes, or maybe even by starting to run yourself.  You could pick her up if you don’t live too far away. This will surely give her the kick start she’s wanted for so long.

Give her a most original and special gift

It could be something worn or used by someone famous whom she admires.  Or take an old picture of her and her favourite grandmother (or of a place she once visited and longs to see again). Have it enlarged and professionally framed. You could also send away for a token of a place she dreams of visiting as a way to keep her dream alive. Getting concert tickets for her to see her favourite artiste is also something she would never forget.

Kidnap her and take her to her most favourite spot

Plan also to have a picnic ready with some of her favourite music (check that you have enough batteries in the CD player/MP3 before you leave home).You could take a day off work and maybe convince her to do the same for this event.  A bit of mischief  wouldn’t do too much harm. In fact, it could play a role in reminiscence of the naughtiness you got up to together when you were children.  This can only be a good thing to fuse your relationship closer together.

Take each other’s kids for a week-end and do something memorable with them

For older kids (with your sister’s express permission of course) you could have their ears pierced, go to a big game, or set up a family album on-line.  For younger kids going to a show or a theme park is something they would think of with pleasure for years to come. If you can’t do this, making a rug together, or learning to cook a simple meal is great fun and a confidence booster.

Go for a luxurious meal

Along with little gossip time together (over dessert) with your sister away from everyone else.

Surprise meeting

If she’s been talking about someone in her past who you know she hopes she’ll see again, arrange a surprise meeting with him/her.  This is a tricky one though, you’d have to make sure (I’m certain that you’re able to ask sneaky questions without her guessing) that she actually does want to see this individual in person again.  You’ll also have to let the person know in advance that this is your idea as a surprise to her, so that they would know exactly what the situation is before they agree to the meeting.

Open up a profile page on Facebook together

Adding pictures of your childhood and teenage years to your profile would be a fun thing to do together, especially if you live far away from each other.

Restoration

Restore something that your sister gave you a long time ago, something she would’ve forgotten about, but that you had kept and cherished.  Return it to her with a small present and a personal message.  This will show her how much she means, and have always meant to you. You could also use this item as your avatar on your social networking site. This would always put a smile on your sister’s face whenever she clicks on your page.

Start a book club together

Undertake to teach her child something important 

Maybe help them to set up a bank account and give them a little money to start it. Show them how to save a little of their pocket money each week/month and explain why it’s important to do so.  You would’ve taught your sister’s child something with lifelong benefits, something she’d appreciate. You could also help an older child to write up his/her CV or be a study partner (these days, you don’t necessarily have to live nearby to do any of these things). For younger children, offer to help with times tables, riding a bike, or becoming an internet ‘friend’ and communicating regularly.

Active involvement

If you live nearby, and your kids are older, you could offer to take your sister’s younger child to their games’ practise once or twice a month so she could have a break.  Or maybe even go to a game or two.

Sisters have the most fun as siblings, but many times we tend to grow apart as we get older.  Sometimes it’s just the pressures of life that cause this, or maybe the fact that we tend to live so far away from each other.  If we allow the relationship with our sisters to fizzle out, we would’ve given up the longest relationship that we’ve had on earth.  Our parents or spouses cannot know us for as long as our sisters do!  Fight to keep the relationship alive and we would’ve preserved some of our beautiful childhood memories together with the person with whom we share the most in the whole world!

Happy Women's Day. You can see more relationship with family and friends articles at the link.