Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not have many friends with sisters?

27 replies

deliakate · 02/08/2010 15:05

Well, I don't think this is a choice, so probably can't be being unreasonable about it. But is it unreasonable to think that women/girls with sisters always have that constant security from childhood and never really become super close to other friends? I don't have a sister, so I don't know, and the only women I know with sisters are very friendly and lovely people, but somehow we never get beyond a certain level of intimacy. Or am I a loon?

OP posts:
TheButterflyEffect · 02/08/2010 15:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

steamedtreaclesponge · 02/08/2010 15:07

Um... I really don't think you can generalise like that! I get on really well with my sister, we're very close, but I also have lots of very close female friends. Some people hate their sisters and don't get on with them at all.

mumblechum · 02/08/2010 15:09

My sister's 5 years older than me so we didn't really grow up together iyswim.

I saw her last month for the first time since she got married 3 years ago. We send birthday and Xmas cards & that's basically it.

So no, having a sister does not make you less outgoing in terms of other female relationships ime.

maduggar · 02/08/2010 15:09

I have 5 sisters, get on with them all and have no problems maintaining friendships.

rubyrubyruby · 02/08/2010 15:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

usualsuspect · 02/08/2010 15:10

I have 2 sisters..we are very close...we also all have close female friends

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 02/08/2010 15:12

Just had a think about the 4 friends I'm closest to and all 4 have sisters, unlike me who has a brother.

cat64 · 02/08/2010 15:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

deaddei · 02/08/2010 15:14

I have seen my sister twice in 10 years.
We have no relationship whatsoever.
Dh is a twin and they never see each other.

rubyrubyruby · 02/08/2010 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

minipie · 02/08/2010 15:15

Huh? Many of my best friends have sisters. Some get on with them, some don't.

I have a sister and am actually much closer than most of my friends than to my sister

Think you're a loon sorry

hairytriangle · 02/08/2010 16:45

Dunno really. My best friend is also my sister, though

lucky1979 · 02/08/2010 18:04

Think you're overthinking it a bit! If it's any consolation I know quite a few people who HATE their sisters

tyler80 · 02/08/2010 18:14

I have friend's I'd turn to before my sister so yes, you're being a loon :-)

tyler80 · 02/08/2010 18:14

friends

sanielle · 02/08/2010 18:19

How odd, never even would have thought of this! Think you are not right though as sibling relationships vary VERY widely!!! And I actually don't know loads who are super close (I'm certainly not with mine)

YunoYurbubson · 02/08/2010 18:22

Well I have a sister, and I never become particularly close to girlfriends.

SalFresco · 02/08/2010 18:55

I think you are thinking of those women whose best friends are their sisters, and so don't look outside their family for those very close friendships.

They do exist, but as the posts above show, family dynamics vary so wildly that it is certainly not the case for everyone.

I am very close to my sisters, actually, but the age difference - 7 and 8 years younger than me - means that I am definitely the big sister, and we all have our own friends for different things.

LiquoriceLila · 02/08/2010 21:56

I have a sister and we are extremely close but I also have 3 best friends who im also very close to.
However my sister much prefers male company to female (apart from me of course lol). Not much help really am I?

Stinkyfeet · 02/08/2010 22:02

My best friend has a sister - I would say I'm just as close to her as she is to her sister, probably more so in some ways.

SixtyFootDoll · 02/08/2010 22:07

My sis in law is one of 5 sissters and although we get on, we are not close and I often wonder if that is becuase she has 'enough' female support in her life not to need anymore.
I have brothers and I actually find it hard to maintain close female friendships and often feel I dont understand my fellow females.

fartblossom · 02/08/2010 22:42

My only sibling, a sister was 5 years younger than me and was born with Downs so the 5 years seemed like more. Unfortunately she passed away 8 years ago (age 18) so you could say I have no sister (kind of - dont mean it to sound as nasty as it does), yet Ive not really got any close friends. Ive got a few friends, but no-one I can confide anything in (only my DH).

So there goes my experience in whether or not having a sister effects my friendships.

slouchingtowardswaitrose · 02/08/2010 22:58

I loathe my sister. Horrible girl.

I always find it really strange when people ask if I have siblings. I forget that siblings matter to most people.

On the other hand, I expect my children will be friends for life. But they will be parented much better than we (my sister and I) were.

Ladyanonymous · 02/08/2010 23:02

I have an elder sister - less than two years between us.

Its the most complicated relationship I have in my life.

I love her so much but she doesn't understand me or the fact I am now 35 - not 15.

I have loads of close female friends.

LucyLouLou · 02/08/2010 23:21

I get on well with my sister, but I wouldn't say it's prevented me from being close to my girlfriends. I have two in particular who I would trust with my life (luckily they get on well with my sister too, so we can all go have lunch together etc). FWIW, I have close guy friends as well, one of which I'm probably closer to than the girls, and another who is the father of my unborn DD. I think having a sibling close in age (she is less than two years younger than me) has had little or no effect on my friendships as far as I can see.

Swipe left for the next trending thread