My brother is 12 years older than I am, and he let me live with him after college. He's more of a father figure than a sibling.

"We don't laugh much, cry, or show our emotions around each other. We've also never held grudges or sulked around each other, like siblings often do. I wish my brother's playful side would come out more often. He has his moments, but his longtime maturity has made for a solemn outlook. I sometimes think having a cheeky brother with a naughty streak might be nice because we would then have similar traits."

"My brother has also never had children of his own, and although he tried to bond with my daughter when she was younger, he found it hard. He has no connection with younger people and is firmly entrenched in the adult world. I feel guilty that I have a closer relationship with my foster siblings than with my brother, but that is the way relationships have developed."

I am 12 years younger than my brother and we have never been very close. After our parents died, he became more of a father figure than a sibling. We rarely argue, joke, laugh, cry, or show emotions together. He maintains a mature, solemn outlook and struggles to connect with younger people, including my daughter. I feel closer to my foster siblings and sometimes guilty about that. I appreciate his guardian role but wish the relationship felt more like typical siblings, with playfulness and shared camaraderie.

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