National Siblings Day 2023
Join us in celebrating National Siblings Day on Monday 10th April 2023 - a global awareness day recognising brothers and sisters!
At Sibs, we know what a valuable role siblings play in the lives of their disabled brothers and sisters, how unique their relationship can be and how they need to be recognised and celebrated in their own right too.
We also know that this day may be hard for many adult siblings who are separated from their brother or sister(s) and siblings whose brother or sister has died. It may be a difficult day for siblings who don’t have a close relationship with their brother or sister but feel pressured to. We are here for everyone this Siblings Day.
Above: Sarah with her brothers Sam and Dan. “I can cycle an accessible bike uphill with my brother Dan up front whilst holding the dog lead and having a consultation with the GP on the phone” – read more about Sarah’s sibling strengths here.
Here are some ideas to help you mark the day, whatever your sibling situation
- First and foremost, do something for yourself today! Siblings are used to coming second (or third or fourth…) to the needs of another. Siblings Day is about YOU!
- Acknowledge your feelings. It’s OK to feel proud, frustrated, joyful, angry, appreciative, fed-up and everything in between. It’s OK to be where you’re at.
- Share a sibling moment that you’re proud of with a non-sibling friend and help them to understand why it matters to you.
- Use our National Siblings Day Zoom/Teams background on your video calls during April to help raise awareness and start the conversation about why siblings matter
- If you’ve got one, dig out a childhood photo that makes you smile and pop it on the fridge for the day or make it your phone background.
- Pop the kettle on, put your feet up, and take 20 mins to read a chapter of “Self-care for siblings”, our eBook by siblings and for siblings.
- Write down three things that are completely unique about your sibling relationship, like an in-joke that no-one else would understand.
- Make it your ‘day off’ from being a sibling! In the same way that Mums are encouraged to put their feet up on Mother’s day, why not ear mark the day for things that just feel like ‘you’ and that aren’t to do with your identity as a sibling?
- If you can – get in touch with your brother or sister in a way that works for you both. Write a postcard, record a voice message, post a chocolate bar. If you can’t send it – you might find it helpful to write the message anyway.
- What are your sibling strengths? Take time to recognise all the ways that being a sibling has shaped who you are and given you skills and experiences your peers don’t have. You don’t have to have a positive relationship with your brother or sister to acknowledge how your experiences have shaped you.
- Share your feelings on social media! Use the hashtag #SiblingStrengths and join the conversation on. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. Tell us about your own sibling strengths or those you admire in others. Be part of our private facebook community for adult siblings, #Siblife.
- Call a sibling friend to wish them a Happy Siblings Day! Haven’t met another sibling before? Join one of our online support groups here (bereaved siblings welcome). You are not alone.
“National Siblings Day is about celebrating our sibling relationships and acknowledging how our experiences have shaped us. However, when you are celebrated or acknowledged for being the sibling of a disabled person, it can feel like you are reduced to just that – and we’re more than that too. Recognise your value as an individual on siblings day. Your worth and your identity goes beyond being a sibling, and it goes beyond a single day of the year.” – Adult sibling
Get involved
- Don’t miss our online meet the author event in this celebratory session in the run up to National Siblings Day. Meet sibling author Manni Coe – Thurs 6th April – tickets just £5, click here to book [event now passed]
- Win a copy of ‘Brother.Do.You.Love.Me’ by Manni Coe [competition now closed]
- Want to meet other siblings? Join a support group
- Keen to join the conversation? Be part of our private facebook community for adult siblings
- Got an eye for detail? Join Sibs reader panel
- Like what we do? Be a Friend of Sibs
- Find out more ways you can help Sibs
- Find out more about National Siblings Day