Tomorrow is National Siblings Day, a day for the 80% of Americans who have siblings to celebrate their brothers and sisters. Celebrating Siblings Day can be as easy as sending a card, sharing a meal or doing a favor for a sibling. Almost three years ago, I had a healthy reminder of why it is important to say “Te amo! I love you!” to your siblings, as my little brother was diagnosed with lymphoma. It took my breath away, BUT we grew closer because of it. We talked more. We hung out more – in the hospital (hey, he was always on-the-go, so I met him wherever he was). We hugged more. And, we made a point of saying that we loved each other more. So, on this Siblings Day, I tell the world that the world is a better place with my brother and I am a better person because of the lessons that he had taught me. 🙂“There is no relationship like the ones we have with our siblings,” said Montclair State University Family and Child Studies Professor Dr. Jonathan Caspi. He has identified five reasons to celebrate Siblings Day:

1. Siblings may have a greater influence on who we are or who we become than our parents and peers do, according to a growing body of research. Sibling relationships are intense relationships involving support, love, competition and conflict. Like it or not, so much of the way we handle relationships, closeness, competition, give support, argue, resolve conflicts and play we learned from our interactions with our siblings.
2. Recent research is showing how important sibling support is for bolstering resilience and coping with difficult life experiences.
3. Sibling relationships are the longest-lasting relationships most people have – and more people have siblings than they have children or spouses.
4. Only with a sibling can you authentically commiserate about mom and dad and the crazy things families do! 😉
5. Siblings are who we confide in. They know our deepest secrets and share in family experiences – both the good and the bad. Witnesses to our most embarrassing and proud moments, they are the keepers of shared memories and personal histories.

Created by Claudia Evart, the Siblings Day Foundation established a National Siblings Day, celebrated on April 10, the birthday of Evart’s late sister, Lisette. President George W. Bush signed a presidential message recognizing April 10 as National Siblings Day in 2008, and President Bill Clinton did the same in 2000. Since 1998, 88 governors have signed Siblings Day proclamations in 49 states.Don’t worry if you are an only child! For the roughly 20% of Americans who are only children or “singletons,” there is National Only Child Day, which is celebrated on April 12.

“The advantage of being a singleton is that there is no competition for parental resources,” said Caspi. “This is often an explanation for reported high achievement of only children, who tend to be high achievers like first-borns.”

The downside? “The lack of sibling support, which is so important in resilience and coping.”

How will you be celebrating this holiday?