Below, camper and Youth Advisory Board member Grayson, age 16, shares his thoughts about navigating Siblings Day after the death of his brother.
My brother died in a skiing accident when I was 10 years old. For me, Siblings Day reminds me more of my brother than usual, normally due to everyone else mentioning or posting it. Seeing other people post about their siblings or talk about them makes me miss him more, both as a person, but also miss all the things we could have done together, the potential memories.
Grayson, age 10, on left, with his younger brother, age 8
While I miss him regularly, or on other holidays, Siblings day is unique in that it makes me think more about what my life would have been like, or where I would be now, as I see other people my age with siblings my brother’s age. Reflecting on that is different than just processing emotions, and is a different kind of grief, but can still be difficult.
For me, I think about the memories I did make in a positive light, grateful for those instead of longing for more. I also think talking about it can be more difficult since it is far rarer to lose a sibling rather than a parent. Especially on a day like Siblings Day, which is not as big a deal as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, sometimes it can feel hard to bring it up, especially when others don’t know or don’t consider it.
For me, I think it helps to talk to family or friends I trust, especially my family, because I know how they feel on other holidays is how I feel on Siblings Day.
