Читать книгу The Sister Book - Kristi Thom - Страница 21

. . . and Bad Days

“I didn’t get picked for the play.”

“I have to wear this cast for a

whole month.”

“My best friend isn’t talking to me.”

“The doctor said I can’t ever eat

anything with gluten in it.”

When something hard or disappointing hap-

pens to sisters and brothers, they’re bound to

feel down, at least for a little while. The good

news about bad news is that there are things

you can do to help your sib feel better.

The best thing you can do is pretty simple:

Just listen. You don’t have to know how to

solve the problem. Sometimes being able to

talk about it helps a person feel better, be-

cause she knows someone cares. Sometimes

thinking out loud helps a person figure out

for himself what he needs to do. And when

a problem is big enough to change a person’s

whole life, talking can help that person get

used to the new way things are going to be.

So let your brother talk if he wants to. And

tell your sister you’re sorry about whatever

happened. If you have ideas about what your

siblings can do, ask if they want to hear them.

But it’s OK to just listen to what your sib has to

say without saying much yourself.

You can also be an even kinder version of your

normal self while your sib is in a slump. Maybe

you can offer to play your brother’s favorite

game with him or let your sister have an extra

cookie or an extra turn. You can do small

favors or let things slide when you usually

wouldn’t. If your sibling doesn’t seem happier

right away, don’t be discouraged. Your acts of

kindness really do make a difference.

Ask a parent for ideas on how to help, too,

especially if it’s something big. Maybe the

doctor said your sister can’t eat certain foods

anymore. Or maybe your brother broke his leg

and has to wear a cast this summer. You and

your parents can come up with ways to help

your sibling not feel left out and get used to

the situation.

Signs of Support

Write a note or draw a picture that lets

your sister know how much you care.

Ask your brother if he’d like to just hang

out with you for a while and talk about

what’s on his mind.

Get a book from the library by your sister’s

favorite author, or a book with information

about her problem.

Give your sibling a hug—and repeat often!