I have had siblings for most of my life, the entirety of it, in fact, except for a period of two years before Furkan was born. Therefore, I suppose, I know what it is like to have siblings.

I think having siblings is a defining feature that shapes a person. (Like, when you live in an environment surrounded by other humans all the time, obviously they’re gonna impact you somehow, right?) Which is why, before anything else, I tend to judge people based on what number sibling they are, which some people say is wrong, but oh well.

There is the first child, also known as the family’s test subject, the child the parents loved first, the one who sets up the stage for the other kids. The title “first child”/”oldest child” is a very notable role, a big responsibility, among other things. Perhaps I am biased, but it is what it is.

There is also the youngest child, the baby of the family who remains a baby forever, the child who gets to do things the older siblings never got to do at that age, the child who everyone loves most.

And then, depending on how many siblings there are in the family, there is the middle child(s), the child who’s somehow just there, lost in the middle. The middle child role is very open-ended. The middle child could be a perfect epitome of sibling excellence or a troublemaker. But I guess so can anyone else.

Anyway, I think the idea of siblings is fascinating, and I enjoy seeing everyone share pictures of their siblings on this day that is dedicated to your fellow human beings who shared a womb, a room, and many other things.

Happy national siblings day!

P.S. I don’t know why it’s so hard to find a good picture of all five of us alone together in one frame.