DS and DD are exactly two years apart (same birthday) and have always been best friends. It’s lovely! The only drawback is that when you give consequences to one, they’re both mad at you.

My 5 yo son adores his 1 yo sister and he is her favorite person. I also have a 4 years older brother and we are close. There was a time when I was a tween and he was a teen when we didn't really hang out much but we did as little kids and also do now as adults.

My 7 year old son and almost 5 year old daughter get along very well but they do fight at times like all siblings. I'm so thankful that they have had each other over the past five months because they haven't spent time with any of their friends. I also have a 2.5 year old daughter and she usually trails behind them and they are very good with her.

Yes! Our kids have a strong relationship right now. 7 year old girl and 4.5 year old boy.

The fact that they are such good friends has been a God send this summer. They bond over paw patrol. They (used to, until COVID) take classes at the same dance studio. They spend hours together immersed in imaginative play.

I have no idea if this has helped, but we have also worked to raise them as free from gender stereotypes as possible. (I recommend Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue: How to Raise Your Kids Free of Gender Stereotypes). Our daughter was never disappointed in having a brother. They don't think of certain toys as being "girl toys" or "boy toys" - they will play anything together - perform dance shows, play with Transformers, play dolls.

They do have their own personalities and preferences, of course, and we make sure that they have plenty of quiet time alone so they can pursue their own projects.

Who know what their relationship will be like in 5 or 15 years, but I hope that they are building a strong foundation right now.

My mother is one of 8 kids. She is far closer to one of her brothers than she is any of her sisters.

Anonymous wrote:I have two girls, 17mths apart and they couldn’t be closer at 11 and 10. That said, I think it is the spacing of their age and not their gender that enabled this.

I think it mostly comes down to personality and similar gender can help as they may be more likely to like similar things. But any particular brother/sister pair can be closer than some other pair of sisters or brothers.

My DS and DD are 15 mos apart, now 17 and 15 (almost 16). They played together fine when they were little and get along fine, no fighting, but will never be each other's first choice of a person to hang out with. They are just very different people and always have been.

This was a bit disappointing to me since I'm 20 mos younger than my sister and we're very close. I believed the "close age siblings will always be best friends" until I had my two. But, at least they don't have the angry/hostility/fighting of some siblings.

DD has found that sister type closeness with two girls who have been her BFFs since 2nd grade. Perhaps not coincidentally those girls are also both only-children. DS also has a good group of friends. I hope they'll appreciate each other more when they are older but I expect for the most part they will be the kind of people who create their own "family" of close friends. I like that they are able to do that. I was a really shy kid and with my sister at home, really relied on her for all my friendship needs and never became great at making friends.

Anonymous wrote:THIS AGAIN?!? So tired of the boy disappointments.

Not all sisters are like Little Women. I have a sister and we rarely talk; we were never close.

Act disappointed with your son and your daughter will follow suit. Or, foster their relationship and see what happens.

OP here. I’m not disappointed to be having a boy. I’m disappointed my daughter won’t have a sister. I truly didn’t realize I had been hoping for a girl until we found out we’re having a boy and I got a little wistful about DD not having the sister relationship I do.

I’m so glad to hear so many of you have kids that get along and are close. That’s what I hoped for for our daughter when we decided to have another!

I have two girls, 17mths apart and they couldn’t be closer at 11 and 10. That said, I think it is the spacing of their age and not their gender that enabled this.

2.5 years between our boy/girl. They fought like cats and dogs until about 10/12 maybe 11/13. Then they started ganging up on us/defending their sibling. Get along great now!

My 7 yo DD and 4 yo DS have gotten very close after being home for the past four months.

I think a lot of little brothers and up close to their big sisters. Some girls just really embrace the big sister role and are both protective and fun. I’ve seen it many times with my friends’ kids. I had and boy, then a girl. They really are each other’s best friends but they can be so mean to each other, too.

THIS AGAIN?!? So tired of the boy disappointments.

Not all sisters are like Little Women. I have a sister and we rarely talk; we were never close.

Act disappointed with your son and your daughter will follow suit. Or, foster their relationship and see what happens.

I wanted a girl. I got a boy and he's the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are making it about your needs and wishes. Your daughter would be fine as an only, a brother or a sister. I have a sister and she's always been horrible to me. We've never been close and never will be.

DS2 and DD2 are super close BFF. They instantly bonded since DD2 was born. They're 2 years apart, do everything together, and I don't see that changing.

We have a 3 year old DD and just found out we are having a boy. I’ll be honest that I am a little disappointed and that I was hoping for another girl. I think having a boy will be wonderful and we will of course love him but I’m a little sad that my daughter won’t have a sister to grow up with. My sister and I are very close and I want her to have a relationship like that in life. DD has been asking for a sister so I think that is adding to my feeling.


So tell me- Are your DD and DS close? What’s a brother sister relationship like?