I Met Her When I Was 10
I met her when I was 10 years old. She was this tiny being that came into my life without much warning. I don’t even remember my parents telling me that they were pregnant. Absolutely no memory. I remember being annoyed. “Another girl? I like being the only girl in our family.” It’s easy to be annoyed with someone you don’t even know and I was a selfish 10 year old. All feelings of irritation vanished once I held her. Being so much older than my sister has really been a blessing. I don’t have many memories of my own childhood but I remember everything from hers. From her first steps, to her first day of kindergarten, and recently seeing her finish up her first year of high school.
In 2009 she was diagnosed with celiac disease and thyroiditis and it was then that I saw her transform into someone that I truly admire. At 12 years old, she was forced to think about how she wanted to address these issues and instead of the easy way out (pills, pills, pills) she radically changed her diet. She doesn’t cheat. She doesn’t complain. And now that she got her braces off…she actually flashes that awesome smile all the time.
I feel lucky to admire someone that is 10 years younger than me. I know that I’ll be inspired as I grow older and can continue to invest in her without hesitation.
The reason I’m sharing all of this is because The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio asked me to write up a little blog post about a woman or girl that has made the greatest impact on my life. I chose my (almost) 15 year old sister. She isn’t awesome by accident. She stands firm in what she believes in and prioritizes things that are important to her. My sister teaches me that no matter how old I am, I can impact the world around me. What can you do to impact the community and relationships around you?
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The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio is excited to welcome special guest Whoopi Goldberg to Nationwide Arena (in Columbus, Ohio) on Friday, June 29th for Keyholder 2012. The Women’s Fund’s annual Keyholder event is a preeminent gathering in the central Ohio area, attracting thousands of people to honor the women and girls who have made a significant impact in their lives. Tickets are on sale now for $50 each and all proceeds are used to provide grants that promise social change for women and girls. Call 614-225-9926 to purchase tickets or stop by their site for more information. Connect with The Women’s Fund on Facebook and Twitter.
BUT before you buy your tickets, perhaps you can try to win a pair here on my blog! You can enter to win 2 tickets ($100 in value) to The Women’s Fund’s annual Keyholder event and can enter up to six different ways. The giveaway will end at midnight on Thursday, June 21st. Good luck!
A Consideration
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Comments (20)
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That is so awesome! I haven’t lived near my sister for about 7 years and so I hope that once she’s older…we live closer!
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Thanks for reading, Kim! Good luck with winning the tickets! Looks like you have a good chance!
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oh my goodness! I teared up a little when I read this. I have a younger sister too and those moments when they inspire you are touching! So sweet!
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Jessica
Loved reading this special story – How sweet to hear about your admiration for your sister. She must be a real treasure!
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Oh god, the part about remember your sisters childhood hits home for me. I have two younger sisters, one that’s 16 months younger, and one that is 6 years younger.
That event sounds lovely! Too bad I’m no where near there. :(
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It’s pretty great to be able to experience our siblings’ lives. I am most thankful for that. Thanks for the comment :)
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I just found your blog today and came across this post. My youngest sister is 14 – nearly 11 years younger than I am. I remember sitting on the couch with my sisters (twins, three and a half years younger than I am) as our parents told us we’d be getting another sibling. To say I was not happy is an understatement. Callie summed up our feelings well – she was the first one to speak and she said, “I think I’m going to be sick.” It got better once we found out it would be a girl, and once she showed up my life changed so drastically. I was responsible for a lot of her upbringing, and she has developed to share a lot of my interests. If I want someone to be crazy with, she’s usually game. If I want someone to watch a movie with, she’s there. If anyone is going to drive me to Crazytown, it’s Emily. It’s a totally different relationship than I have with my other sisters, and I can’t imagine my life without her.
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Aw thanks for commenting! I can completely relate!! It’s such a wonderful relationship and it’s fun to see us becoming more friends as we age…
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Lauren Kaczmarski
Love this. Reminds me of the relationship I have with my sister who is ten years older. Growing up, she took care of me. Today she is my best friend and lives down the street. So fun to watch our kids play together. Sisters are one of God’s greatest gifts!