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It could be yours! |
What
Do I Do With My Tag-Along Little Sister?
My sister
is always there. My 8 year-old sister has to always be around me.
It`s so annoying! I recently started helping out at gymnastics classes
for younger kids, which MY gymnastics coach asked ME to do. Now
my sister has to come along too and she knows nothing about gymnastics.
I'm gonna go crazy! - Nikki, 11, United Kingdom
"Hey,
Nikki!" I understand
how you are feeling right now, how you feel to want to get away from
your sister, to have freedom and to have your own life. Well, if you
think about it, there is more than one thing to do to make you feel
more comfortable in life.
You should think about your sister's feelings. Why does she stay with
you all the time? Doesn't she have friends? Perhaps she is too shy,
or afraid to make new friends, which makes her feel lonely. In this
case, she needs you as a shelter, because she feels safe and happy
with you. You should teach her to be more sociable. Help her to make
new friends at school. Help her hold her own parties at home and invite
her schoolmates. She will prefer to spend her day with her best friends
than to bug you. Or to keep her busy, you can buy her comics, coloring
books, games, or anything that interests her. You know her better
than I do, so you make the decision.
Maybe you have been too gentle to her. Maybe you never said a thing
about her being with you all the time. You have to be firm, yet not
too harsh, because she is just a little child, you know? Watch how
your parents/guardians make her obey them. When you think she cannot
follow you, say it. Promise her things, like if she stays at home
and be good, you will give her treats (chocolate, candies, etc), or
you will take her to the playground next weekend, whatever you like.
Always keep your promise, because if you don't, she will never trust
you anymore.
Do you ever know if she is really interested in gymnastics? What if
she is? Why don't you give her a chance? Perhaps she really, really
wants to be one of your students; you never know.
Do you think this has helped you, Nikki? Be kind to your sister. Imagine
this: Your sister is now 11. She is talking to a friend about you:
"I remember when I was little, Nikki had always been a good sister
to me, and she still is. I don't know how I'd live without her. She
is everything to me, and I love her, more than anyone." Doesn't
that sound sweet? It's not all that bad to be kind to her now; you
will never regret it. Have fun!
Raja,
13, Malaysia
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