I have two older brothers and no sisters, but have always had very close, healthy female friendships. I have several close girlfriends who don't have sisters - I really don't think it makes a difference, at least not in my experience.

You could tell the ones in college who had sisters. Down to share clothes, makeup, whatever. Growing up with a sister, you're used to it.

I love my sister so much. I have many girl friends- but nobody comes close to my sister and never can. I also have a brother but he is MUCH younger than I am (19 years younger) so I don't have a brother-sister bond with him. More like cousins, or an aunt/nephew. It's definitely not as tight as my bond with my sister. She and I went through life together. We're the only ones who get what it was like to grow up with our parents and why we turned out the way we did. I think losing my sister would almost be worse than losing my spouse, and possibly as bad as losing my child.

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I have always been looking for a sister ( had 2 brothers) so might over share or have been needy at times. Not sure but just a feeling I get occasionally. I always had one best friend - grade school , HS, college, work, new mom. I am pretty self- aware so realize there have been times when I needed them more than they needed me. Never any bad situations and still friends with all but realize they all have sisters and have good relationships with them so as much as they are dear friends their real sisters always come first. It has always saddened me that i did not have that special bond. I don't think you can replicate it. Come close, yes, but never exact.

I could have written this post. I have one brother (no sisters) and have always had the need to have 1-2 very close female friendships (at every phase of life) and sometimes i think I hold on to them much tighter than they hold on to me. I can be needy because I just really long for a strong female bond.
I have 2 daughters and a son and am a INCREDIBLY happy that my daughters will each have a sister. Sure, they might not get along (they do so far at ages 5 and 7) but at least they'll have the opportunity.

I feel like I have always been looking for a sister ( had 2 brothers) so might over share or have been needy at times. Not sure but just a feeling I get occasionally. I always had one best friend - grade school , HS, college, work, new mom. I am pretty self- aware so realize there have been times when I needed them more than they needed me. Never any bad situations and still friends with all but realize they all have sisters and have good relationships with them so as much as they are dear friends their real sisters always come first. It has always saddened me that i did not have that special bond. I don't think you can replicate it. Come close, yes, but never exact.

I know onlies that have to have many people around them most of the time or (it seems) they will shrivel up and die. I know people who are extremely close (or at least spend much time with their sisters) and are back stabbers. I know people who are close to their brothers, and those seem the most no nonsense to me, IMHO.

I love my sisters so much and feel bad for women who do not have sisters.

I have sisters and barely speak to them: we have nothing in common except parents.

I have two sisters, including a twin. I have absolutely no idea if people have sisters or not until they tell me

Anonymous wrote:I have an only child. I am a teacher and am around a lot of children. I can tell with 90% accuracy when I meet (and interact with) an only child.

In a good or bad way?

The most toxic friendship I ever had was with a woman with 2 sisters. My closest friends have brothers or a large age gap with their sister. I think it's just coiincidence

I have an only child. I am a teacher and am around a lot of children. I can tell with 90% accuracy when I meet (and interact with) an only child.

My closest sister is 10 years older, and I make really good friends with women who are about 10 years older than I.

I think so, I have no sisters and my girlfriends (I do have a lot) describe me as aloof...I have a lot of girlfriends but none that are super close like a sister

I am a woman who always wanted a sister. I was convinced I had a twin my parents weren't telling me about. I am friendly but I don't really share that much or need constant communication with my friends. I am used to self counsel I guess. Not sure if its personality or lack of sisterhood. When my brother got divorced I lost my sil and that makes me sad

I know some say that if you have sisters you easily notice who does not when it comes to forming friendships. Would you say that you can tell a difference? If so, what is it?