<p>My younger sibling seems a lot more sensitive recently since this college frenzy has come to an end and I'll be heading to college out of state next year. It seems like she's more rebellious and tends to feel more sensitive toward things we tell her...especially when it's my mom and I. Lately, it's been pretty bad ...everytime we tell her something she's doing wrong or just in general she'll throw a fit or be in tears. We used to fight A LOT but I think I am more sensitive now too. I feel bad whenever I say something to her and I'm trying to be closer to her but some days are just not too good lol. </p>
<p>Then again, she's almost 13 so this may just be a "phase"....idk. I feel like it has to do with me going to college next year. I can vaguely recall me being like this when I was her age, but I think I purposely block that time period out of my mind haha...</p>
<p>Let your mom handle the parenting. There’s no reason for both of you to be telling her she’s doing something wrong. Move into more a sibling role and just enjoy being the older sister which will allow her to enjoy being the younger sister.</p>
<p>She may just be annoyed that all the attention has been on you all year (and understandably it needed to be that way because of senior stuff & the college search) and maybe she was expecting the pendulum to swing back her way once a decision had been made.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that D2 is going to be pretty happy once D1 moves in her dorm :)</p>
<p>Take the role of co-conspirator, the two of you against the parents, while steering her into more reasonable behavior.
She just wants attention, good or bad.
You’ve been hogging the spotlight with all the college hoopla.</p>
<p>Ya I think the attention thing is totally true. I feel bad for being the centeral focus in our family for this year lol. But with everything going on, I didn’t even realize how most of our dinner table conversations were probably focused around college and senior year. Oh well, things will change I know as soon as I leave…I hope.</p>
<p>Don’t feel badly that the attention has been on you, that’s just part of the process. But do make an effort to let your sister know that sisters have a special bond and that you’re not on your parents “side.” She must feel ganged up on.</p>
<p>I got my sisters bedroom when she went to college–hers was the biggest. She is 6 years older than me —so I remember being sad…but that new bedroom helped me get over it. Also- I got to fly on an airplane for the first time and go visit her all by myself!</p>
<p>The joys of 1976!</p>
<p>Maybe your sister can have some of your “cool stuff”—make her feel she still is important–and how great it will be when she comes to visit you—without mom and dad!</p>
<p>I was thrilled when my older brother went away to college, because I had shared a bedroom with him for my entire life. I suddenly had a room of my own for the first time ever.</p>
<p>This has been a really rough year at our house with S gone to college and younger D being the only child remaining in our almost empty nest. Our oldest has been gone since 2003, but her brother and her were far closer (despite a constant bickering) and it’s been really hard for her to have all of our attention and none of his. </p>
<p>So while some of your sister’s antics are age appropriate and there are a lot of things you and she can do together between now and when you leave, make sure you keep in close touch with her next fall especially in the beginning. I know it will be an exciting time for you, but take a moment to write on her facebook wall (if you do that kind of thing) and pick up the phone and just call her (not in conjunction with a phone call to parents) once and awhile. It’s easier to try and not miss someone you’re rejecting so understand that in your sister being a pill right now, she may be just trying to make it easier for herself and is getting ready for your eventual departure.</p>
<p>Be prepared for fireworks when the older one comes home at break. You’ll find the younger one “taking over” some of the older one’s territory, and then will have to adjust. (I was shocked when my son’s almost came to blows over who would sit in the “best” seat to watch TV.)</p>
<p>Word of caution: If you have any private (diaries, letters, pictures, birth control ) items or illegal(cigarettes, drugs, bongs, what nots) you must throw them away,burn, give them away-whatever but do not hide them in your old room.
Your younger sib/mom will find them-guarantee. You mom will say she was cleaning out your room. Your sib will say they were looking for “something.”
Don’t take them to school with you, either-your roommate/ roommate’s friends will find.</p>
<p>My #2 offspring was thrilled when #1 went off to college. Not so thrilled when he came home for breaks.</p>
<p>I think the attention thing is probably on target. But your sister will get plenty of attention when you’re away at school, so it will even out.</p>
<p>My daughter is 8 years younger than her brother. When he left for college, she came to me with her plans to knock out half the common wall their bedrooms shared so she could have a suite like her parents. Of course that never happened.</p>
<p>He now lives in another country and she is studying there this semester. They are spending more time together than they have since she was 10 years old. It’s wonderful for both of them.</p>
<p>You can give sis the gift of your time. She’s not driving yet – and probably not allowed to travel far alone. You could offer to take her or her and a friend to something they want to do. Movie, museum, theater performance, zoo. Tell her you are going to miss her and want to do a couple of things this spring with her – ask what she’d like that to be and work to make it happen. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It could be a bus ride to a book store or dept store where you all window shop and you buy the coffee/cocoa. </p>
<p>“The younger child in my family got really happy when the older child went off to college. Up until that point, he was sad.”</p>
<p>Very similar to how my younger son reacted to older brother’s departure. Younger son also said that they got along better after older son was in college.</p>