Mother Hens

I have two sisters, one three years older than me and one eight years older than me. Although the difference in ages isn't very significant (and even less so, the older we get) as adults, these few years between us meant all the difference in our (particularly my!) upbringing. I am proud to say that growing up, I had not one, but three mothers, and the real mother hens were my sisters. Oh, how they worried about me when I was little (how I would get along at school, how the other kids would treat me,) and they worry about me now (whether they're treating me well at work, if I have enough money for my coffee...)

As a kid, I was spared a lot of hardships because I always had big sisters who, because they were a few school grades ahead, did everything before me and showed me how it was done. They each dipped their toes into the unsure waters of the world first, they found out which teachers I did and didn't want ("Mrs. Malere," although I'm sure she's a very lovely woman.) They got a head start on those nasty teenage years before I did, beating down my poor parents so that they were prepared when it was my turn. They both went away to college, preparing me for when it was finally my turn and showing me that you can, in fact, live on "work-study" and without a car, although not easily... (I have a couple of funny stories about the impossibly shy - and probable serial killer - Corby, with who I shared a dead-silent, 4-hour journey when I was desperate to go home.)

In a way, the combination of age and experience, although not much more than my own, gave my big sisters the knowledge and authority with which to mother me. And they did a damn good job, I must say! With their "mother henning," there was never a doubt in my head that they would always be there. I honestly believe that their protection largely helped me grow into the secure and (mostly) confident person I am.

Even now, as we're all three well into adulthood, and one of them even has a family of her own, my sisters are still raising me. One likes to remind me to always wear my lipstick (of which she says in that motherly tone to let me know that she's teasing, but you know she kinda means it,) and I'm pretty sure would go so far as to tuck a napkin into my shirt and wipe my chin like a toddler if she thought necessary. The other, well, I'm fairly confident that there would be a major international incident if she thought someone was going to hurt me. And, for that, she'll always have my gratitude AND money for her bail.

It's easy to find quotes about "sisters," most of them so saccharine sweet you want to lose your lunch. But, because I love quotes, here are some that hopefully won't make the bile rise up in the back of your throat. Enjoy!


An older sister helps one remain half child, half woman.  ~Author Unknown

Sisters don't need words.  They have perfected a language of snarls and smiles and frowns and winks - expressions of shocked surprise and incredulity and disbelief.  Sniffs and snorts and gasps and sighs - that can undermine any tale you're telling.  ~Pam Brown

Sister to sister we will always be, A couple of nuts off the family tree. ~Author Unknown