Sibling Stories
When we gather with our families for the Thanksgiving feast, we may find ourselves face to face with the sister or brother who was the childhood idol, bully, mooch or closest friend. That sibling relationship is always dynamic, but perhaps not well enough understood. So this year, NPR journalists add to your Thanksgiving table a generous helping of sibling stories.
Shannon Lynch Siegler, her husband, Steve, and their kids, Charlie, Nora and Shay. Siegler grew closer to her brother after inviting him to live with her and help care for her first son, Charlie.
Siblings Find Support And Friendship In Each Other
()When Shannon Siegler asked her brother to move in and help with her new baby, she never anticipated their relationship would grow into the friendship they have today.
Brotherly (And Sisterly) Love In The Animal World()
November 26, 2010 Like humans, sibling relationships in the animal world are often complex and surprising. Older elephants take care of youngsters, armadillos are born as identical quadruplets, and cattle egrets sometimes kill their siblings.
A 'Modern Family' Fueled By Sibling Fodder()
November 25, 2010 Screenwriter and producer Steven Levitan has made a career of family sitcoms. His latest project is Modern Family, a warm-hearted comedy with a bit of edge. Levitan says he takes many of the show's conflicts straight from his own kitchen table.
China's 'Little Emperors' Lucky, Yet Lonely In Life()
November 24, 2010 A world with no siblings is the reality for tens of millions of young urban Chinese, born since the one-child policy was introduced in 1976. Now, they are dealing with unique challenges when it comes to their own relationships and families.
When One Sibling Is Developmentally Disabled()
November 24, 2010 Commentator Daphne Beal is coming to grips with the fact she's not going to her parents' house for Thanksgiving and seeing her sister Cecily, who is developmentally disabled and legally blind. But in the absence of Daphne's young children, Cecily will be the center of attention again.
Audio Slideshow: Sibling Snapshots()
November 23, 2010 As part of our week-long series on siblings, NPR posted a request for stories on our Facebook page. We received 1,800 responses and spoke to several of those people. Many also sent in photographs. Here, we bring you some of those stories.
How Much Does Birth Order Shape Our Lives?()
November 23, 2010 Theories abound on how birth order may affect lives. But the one thing psychologists agree on is that while family order can be important, we're all amalgams of childhood influences, from teachers and peers to random events.
Sibling Rivalry: Match Members Of The Same Family()
November 22, 2010 A simple matching game reveals notable individuals who have, in some cases, been overshadowed by their siblings.
Siblings Share Genes, But Rarely Personalities()
November 22, 2010 Many siblings couldn't be more different from each other even though they share genes and environment. Take brothers Tom and Eric Hoebbel (above), whose personalities and lives are radically different. No one knows for sure why some siblings' lives diverge as much as they do, but there are three major theories that try to explain why.
The Mix: Bands Of Brothers And Sisters()
November 21, 2010 Each day during the week of Thanksgiving, Morning Edition will examine a different aspect of the complex bond that exists between siblings. Here at NPR Music, we're highlighting our favorite sibling acts. Listen to a mix of songs from The Jackson 5, The Beach Boys and more than 100 other family bands.
