Like a lot of people in college, I have a younger sibling who, for the most part, annoys me a majority of the time. She loves to constantly push my buttons and ask me to do everything for her. She has called me, multiple times, from upstairs to bring her a glass of water just because she was really thirsty and too tired to get out of her bed to get it herself. I was so excited to get away from her at first, but then it hit me that I was really going to miss her constantly bugging me.
Stage 1: I’m Not Going To Miss Them
I spent fifteen years with her always by my side and I was more than ready for my life away from them. For the first time, you are no one’s sibling and it’s great because no one compares you to your sibling. You for the first time are your own person so you think there’s no way I am going to miss them while you’re away.
Stage 2: I Kinda Miss Them
This stage sneaks up on you without you realize it. It might start out with you opening a snapchat from them and they might be making a really ugly face but you realize how you miss seeing that face everyday. You shake the feeling that you miss them though and blame it on being a tough week at college and home just seems like the better option at this point. You don’t realize it now but that feeling that you miss your sibling is only going to increase as time between the last time you saw them increases.
Stage 3: You Admit To Yourself That You Miss Them
This usually happens when you start talking about you family with someone. You start talking about how annoying your sibling is or what they are like and it’s like a lightbulb goes off in your head. You miss your sibling. You hate to admit it, but it’s true. You spent years with them by your side and now they aren’t here and you just want them next to you. Though you can admit that you miss them to yourself, you can’t tell anyone else because you know your parents would just tell you “I told you so,” and your sibling would just gloat and make fun of you. You keep it a secret but you have already started counting down the days till you get to hug them again.
Stage 4: You Admit To Your Sibling That You Miss Them
It took me a while to actually tell my sister I miss her. When I finally told her, she was her normal annoying self and told me that of course I missed her because she’s amazing. I know she misses me though because when I surprised her by coming home for October break, she burst into tears when she saw me. Though actually admitting to your sibling that you miss them is hard, it is nice to know that they miss you too.
Stage 5: You Start Counting Down The Days Until You See Each Other
This stage, in my opinion, is the best stage. You know that they miss you and you know that you miss them so going home can not come soon enough. You have the countdown on your phone and every hard day at college is just one more day until you are reunited with you sibling. The days seem to drag on but before you know it, you’re on your way home. You can’t sleep the night before and you just want each hour to fly by. For me, the moment right before I’m about to see them is always the best because there has been so much built up anticipation and it is all about to go away. Just being able to hug them and talk to them face to face makes everything better and you know that no matter how long or short you’re home for it’s going to be a great time because you’re with them.