The Small Universe of Siblings (by Nina)
It's quite amazing what happens in families, isn't it? Consider a household with two parents (though there are millions of single-parent households too). That's one relationship. Add in a child … three people, three relationships. But then add in a second child … four people, six relationships:
Parent + parent
Parent #1 + child #1
Parent #1 + child #2
Parent #2 + child #1
Parent #2 + child #2
Child #1 + child #2
Whoa. Add a third child and there are five people and 10 relationships. No wonder families sometimes feel like they are bouncing off the sides of an atom splitter, like wild neutrons on the run. How on earth could siblings possibly NOT be touched by each other's rough edges, talents, problems, illnesses, behaviors, and triumphs!
