Siblings

Three years ago on my imaginary Christmas list, I only had one wish; that my two sons would be nicer to each other.

Back then everyday was a struggle, constant fighting and very little goodness between my two and five year old. I just wished for a bit more tenderness, companionship and fun between the boys, to make the bickering bearable.

Since then, I’ve observed and photographed sibling relationships among adults and children; friends and family, a fascinating collection of positives and negatives all with a unique bond. So I now realize, I already had my wish; they may not show their love for each other all the time but it is there. I get real comfort and joy when I see such wonderful images of siblings, a precious connection shining through in a photo.

This Christmas I’ll watch my boy’s fuss, fight, and make each other laugh, like only they know how.

Please share with us how you photograph your own sibling relationships or those of your children?

Image and words courtesy of Honorary Sister / Guest Blogger / Flickr star Xanthe Berkeley.

Comments

[Irene]

beautiful post and photo!

[kosenrufu mama]

thank you for your words, your post is lovely, i have a picture in which you can see my children love and hate each others, but i understood that is a training for their life, precius training, they are lucky to have each other, every day... here http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/09/torta-per-un-compleanno.html

[Beryl]

My sister and I are like only children. The same parents but with a 7 year age gap we are each in a different phase of life and serious attention hogs from our parents. However as my sister blossoms into an adult our similarities are uncanny and hard now to deny. As my sister graduates from college this May and embarks on her adult journey I was honored to be asked by my parents to document her senior photos and capture who she is. Happy, humorous, focused, laid-back. I love this girl. And I am proud to call her my sister.

http://bellarose-photography.com/?p=329

[melissa]

Happy sibling moments are so hard to capture for me too.
Here is a successful shoot with my own fighing brothers: http://melissamillerphotos.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/bruthas.html

[melissa]

that photo makes my heart warm. how lucky to catch a such a special moment between them!

[isaida]

My two younger boys and an impromptu Christmas shoot that did not go the way I pictured, but I still got some cute pics - at least in my opinion.

http://mami-dearest.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-picture-outtakes.html

[erika]

Thanks for picking one of my photos!
I love this post because I feel like I'm always trying to capture these moments. We just got to the "Play-Together" stage, "The I-Really-Love-My-Brother" stage & "I-Think-My-Brother-is-Hilarious" stage.

I also feel like I'm sneaking around with my camera to avoid being caught. Here's a few of those moments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22634402@N02/4011470327/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22634402@N02/4190451510/

[Heather]

Here's a post on my two rug rats --

http://mamamutterings.blogspot.com/2009/12/siblings.html

[Amy (Papillon Sky Photography)]

I saw the picture for today and knew it was your boys before I even read it, Xanthe! Congrats on the guest post!!!! And thank you so very much for including two sweet moments of my kiddos. I, too, struggle with those moments when they fight!! Here's a couple more shots of my kids being cutesy with each other. I'm thankful for the photographs to remind me of these times when things are not so happy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3450365424/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3741980169/

[Karyn]

As I can never follow directions exactly...here is my sibling...and her daughter...twirling... =)

http://www.mundanedetails.com/2009/12/wordless-wednesday/

[sarah]

this really spoke to me--mine are 2 and 5 now and we definitely deal with lots of discord at times. here is a photo of them that i love: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleysofaustin/3193575448/in/set-72157622108389703/

[Jade Sheldon]

Your boys definitely love each other very much: they wouldn't fight so much if they didn't care so much. Isn't male bonding a funny thing? :)

So glad you made this post! I just captured my favorite shot of my brother a few days ago :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4179897142/

Growing up, we fought and bickered constantly... but as soon as we got a bit older it all seemed to fade and now I can't even remember the last time we had choice words between the two of us.

[Jade Sheldon]

Your boys definitely love each other very much: they wouldn't fight so much if they didn't care so much. Isn't male bonding a funny thing? :)

So glad you made this post! I just captured my favorite shot of my brother a few days ago :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4179897142/

Growing up, we fought and bickered constantly... but as soon as we got a bit older it all seemed to fade and now I can't even remember the last time we had choice words between the two of us.

[keli]

what a beautiful post, xanthe!! i always love seeing your photos of your two boys - you capture their connection SO very well. alas, i have an only child at the moment, so i don't really have a photo to share, but i just wanted to stop by and say congrats on a beautifully well-written post! :)

[sarah]

a couple more: reading together: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleysofaustin/2695082656/
funny collage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradleysofaustin/4190738290/

[Vanessa]

Xanthe this is such a beautiful post. I am an only child so i dont always understand the sibling rivalry business. But what I do know from watching my friends and my husband with his sisters is that they can make each other laugh in a way that no one else can for the stranges and most obscure reasons. I love when I am there to witness that.

[kristin]

wonderful post! i too waited 2 long years for my 2 to connect. now they are inseparable and i am so very very glad. i always admit they fight as passionately as they love. and i think that is all good.
i love catching the real moments between them, like a touch..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2937322793/
and sharing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3650806186/
spontaneous hugs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2815095148/

thanks for this post x it is good to go back and see the shots i have of their connection. XO

[Tiffani]

I love your focus on siblings today, Xanthe! This is beautifully said. :) Thanks for linking to our nintendo morning, lol, here's a shot of my sister's boys just for you!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/childplay/4190904910/?edited=1

[Kristine]

This is where my kids are right now... A really good spot.
http://kristinenoel.com/2009/12/04/ammo/

As one of 4 I know how this can change on a dime - but all of the dynamic is so much a part of who we are and who they will become.

[Kirsten]

Love this post!! I'm in my early thirties now and still have close bonds with my older brother and younger sister. It wasn't always that way, mind you. We had tensions and disputes and rivalry growing up (what, with me being the proverbial middle child and all).

My sister and I now are closer than ever. When the three of us (including my brother) are together, people will often remark how close we are and ask my parents how they did it. The answer typically includes something about patience, prayer, and nurturing each of us individually. It all worked out, as you can see;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstenmichelle/4147373144/

Great post today!! Thanks for these thoughts.

[traceyclark]

I LOVED this post Xanthe. It really got me thinking!
http://traceyclark.squarespace.com/blog/2009/12/16/extreme-love.html
So happy you shared this with us today. Thanks so much.

[Julie Alvarez]

I can share with you my daughter's love between her and her sisters:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3184019176/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3206515875/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2846773583/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3207229474/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4146812649/

[Kate]

Beautiful image, Xanthe! Fighting goes with the territory, which makes moments like this all the more sweeter. Thanks for linking to the image of my girls!
xo Kate

[Suzanna]

This photo is beautiful! I can definitely relate to the sibling war... but the love, it's always there.

[Sandra]

They are five years apart. They fight for toys and for mommy's attention. But they are also best buddies.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artfullife/3612380468/in/set-72157612065515197/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artfullife/3488973940/in/set-72157612065515197/

[Dannie]

My sibling and I are five years and worlds apart. I envy the relationships my girlfriends have with their sisters, the bond of like minds and mutual adoration that comes with adulthood. Despite our genetic link, my sister and I don't share much else. Bust still it was important that I try to give my children the opportunity to have that ideal sibling relationship in their lives, because I see how powerful and fulfilling it is for so many others. I had my boys close together so their chances at having that might be better. And although they fight constantly, they need each other and search one another out just as much. I already see how strong their bond is. Even though I can't experience it myself, I thoroughly enjoy marveling at theirs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45294365@N08/4191364510/

[Trude]

I feel you on this one! Although I'm not a mother yet, I used to fight soooo much with my younger brother - we're only two years apart. Now that we've passed the tough teen years and are in our mid-20s, it's a million times better. I love talking to him and we take time out to catch up! And he smiles nicely for me (at least for a few frames):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4077686201/in/set-72157600090183928/

[xanthe]

thank you for sharing all these wonderful images celebrating siblings of all ages. it's been so lovely to be here today. x.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4190623367/

[camerashymomma ~ meredith winn]

beautiful photo of siblings! wonderful post!!

[Dani]

I love my brothers and my little sister. :-) They are my life.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36197392@N06/4168438190/

[beth]

at 18 and 21....well somedays they still act like they're 10 and 14.....but I love it !


http://www.flickr.com/photos/29291473@N04/4191962138/