Sisters and brothers

[StuckInTheMiddleWithTwo]

Can brothers and sisters be as close as same-sex sibling pairs? I had a sister growing up and always thought siblings of the same sex seemed to be closer. DH and his sister have nothing to do with each other at all, while DSis and I keep in regular contact. DD recently got a little brother and part of me is sad that she won't get to experience the close bond that I have with my sister. Can brothers and sisters have the same closeness?

My husband has a twin sister. They are very close. It’s like having him and a female him as a best friend. They can still finish each other’s sentences off. It’s fascinating to watch.
I’m not close to my sisters but feel a duty of care. I don’t particularly like them but feel I have to check in on them.
Mine are all quite close and sex doesn’t come into it.

I’m in my 30s and count my brother as one of my closest friends, if not the closest. We probably weren’t as close growing up (normal sibling bickering etc) but have always been fairly tight knit.

My dh has 2 brothers and a sister. Closest to sister by miles.

I had a brother, always very close. My mum has a brother, super close.

My dad had brothers and no closer to them than we were to our opposite sex sibling, in fact less rivalry. My dds are very close but way more able to push each other's buttons.

Yes I think so. I'm emotionally close to my brother although I don't have a sister to compare it to. We are closer than some same sex siblings I know. DH is also much closer to his sister than to his bothers.

I had the opposite worry when I had two girls. My brothers mean the world to me and I felt sorry for my girls missing out on that, but they seem to adore each other.

My sister and I still only tolerate each other. I have 2 boys and one girl. She is thick as thieves with him even though they're adults and married. If odd but their other halves are similar to their sibling. On the other hand my other son and daughter really couldn't stand each other.

Not at all, I know lots of brothers and sisters who are very close.

I not close with my brother at all.. for that reason I wanted two of the same sex. But I look back and see that my mum/dad did nothing to nurture a relationship between the two of us. So many if it’s something you are aware of you can Influence it.

My dc 25 and 31 are very close.
2 x dd's 13 +14 currently hate each other!!

In most cases a sibling is the only person in the world who shared the same upbringing as you - thats an incredible bond and is regardless of sex.
My brother is my best friend and is the world to me, the shared memories, upbringing, knowing each others annoyances, weaknesses and what makes them laugh is universal in close siblings, it really doesn't matter if both same sex or different.
I guess its like the sterotype of a perfect mother daughter relationship - a mother still has the same closeness to her son, just in a mother and son type way?

Well I've only got brothers.

I'm very close to 2 of them, not so much the other but that's him, not the fact he's the opposite sex.

My dad was much closer to his Sister than brother.
My mum only had sisters and as much as I love my Aunties, I'm bloody glad I've not got a sister!

I have 2 older brothers. I'm very close to one in particular. I had Dd1 when I was very young my oldest brother was like a dad to her.
I have 4 older sisters we get on and see each other all the time.
All 6 of us will meet up and have a night in the pub, before covid.

My two adore each other and are very close at 13 and 16, so I hope it continues into adulthood.

The oldest of my brothers is one of the bestest friends I ever had...Theres almost 6 years between us and we have never argued even as kids..

I'm a lonely only myself but DP is very close to his older sister, and a couple of my friends are very close with their brothers. I don't think you need to worry unnecessarily OP

Don't worry OP, I'm really close to all my siblings (2 of each) but especially to my brother who's closest in age to me

When I was growing up and in my 20's I was very close to my younger brother. Our friendship groups mixed and so we often socialised together, we even worked together for a while and I would have classed him as a good friend.

My husband adores his sister and while they dont talk a lot (he only really talks to me) I would say that they're close, he would kill or die for her and they would always call each other in a crisis. Theyre actually half siblings and there's 8 years between them. Me and my sister (2 year age gap and grew up together) can't bear each other and we haven't spoken in 6 months. My daughters are absolutely best friends and adore each other despite a 10.5 year age gap. My point is, it totally depends on individuals and sisters are no more likely to be close than sister/brother pairs.

I have a brother, and whilst we get on absolutely fine, in reality I'm very much a girl's girl (love shopping, spa days and the like) whilst my brother is a typical bloke. He loves his sport. It means that we have zero common interests. We've never not got on, but I wouldn't say that we have loads in common.

But, I have two daughters who are as thick as thieves. At 14 and 17, they're already planning their first holiday away together alone. They have their own friends, but still share a combined hobby, have regular sleepovers together (even at their age!) and enjoy socialising together. I have no doubt that they'll be very close as adults.

But here's the thing. For every advantage there's a corresponding disadvantage. I'm not hugely close to my brother, but I love the spa days and days out with my mum. I don't have a sister to do it with, so I do all that stuff with my mum. Whereas, my girls have each other. As I've said, they've already planned their first holiday away together, and already do days out shopping together. I'm very much the spare wheel in their relationship. In some ways, it is kind is sad that I won't have that relationship with my children, that I have with my mum. My girls have each other, they don't need or want me much of the time. So I'm very aware that every advantage all too often, there's a corresponding disadvantage.

Of course.
It is an individual thing - personality, and circumstances

I have an older brother and we don't speak except for essential info/re kids etc. We played together as kids but as soon as he turned 13 he changed and we've never got along since. We are polar opposites of each other as adults. Chalk & cheese!

Thanks for all the positive stories everyone, I'm hoping that my two have a close relationship as they age.

@Sarahbeans this is what I'm afraid of- that they won't share enough common ground. Although you could say that about two of the same sex, too, I suppose. Spa days etc don't bother me tbh- I'm emphatically not a girly girl as an adult. No makeup, hate shopping and do it online instead etc. so I'm not especially hoping DD is into all that when she's older. I imagine if she is she'll find friends to do it with.

I'm very much the spare wheel in their relationship. In some ways, it is kind is sad that I won't have that relationship with my children, that I have with my mum. My girls have each other, they don't need or want me much of the time.

Might change when they have their own children, especially if they both have them at the same sort of time, Sarahbeans.

OP, I agree about it likely coming down to personalities in the end, though I really hope my girl/boy/girl with big age gaps DC have strong bonds throughout their lives.

I have a brother and 4 sisters. My brother I'm the closest to

I don't have 4 sisters. I have 3. I'm tired. Apologies!