We hear stories all the time. Whether we read them, watch them play out on TV, or hear them from someone else. Most stories have one side. I had to write a piece for one of my classes the other day about something personal like an experience that helps make us who we are. I chose to write about my side of a story most of us have heard before, but rarely from my position. I decided if I’m going to write something like that, why not share it on here too. So I’ll ask you this, do you know what it’s like to have siblings that come and go?

I’m someone who can answer that question. For the past five years my family has had an open home to children and youth who need it. Now when I say that I don’t want to imply that I my parents are superheroes who have ten extra bedrooms and a bunch of extra time on their hands, I just mean when we have the room and we feel we can, we help.

When someone comes to stay with us, we often don’t know how long it’ll be for, or the full details on who’s coming. Like any big change, it takes time for everyone to adapt and learn who the other is. My experience with change is obviously different than someone who moved in. I still sleep in the same bed, with the same pictures on the wall and overflowing laundry basket in the corner of my room. But of course an extra plate at the dinner table is something different.

You can’t explain a side of the story that you don’t have perspective on, so I can’t speak anything much about how it feels to be uprooted and moved to a new location. However, I can speak about some of my own difficulties with that. Not saying my struggles really measure up to that scenario, but I think challenges are still challenges. Being apart of the welcoming committee, my main goal is just to make someone feel welcome. That can be hard to do when you literally know nothing about a person and they may not be up to telling you, which is reasonable. Everyone is just trying to learn how to work with each other. It’s like playing a game of “keep-it-up” and adding in an extra ball. A bit hectic at first but you settle and find a rhythm.

Sometimes my house is empty though, and it’s just me and my parents. I always think maybe it’ll stay like that, but as I learned a couple weeks ago, we’re back in the game, with an eight year old boy who’s new to this whole thing. And I come in with a similar attitude each time, “no no no no, I’m not going to adjust, I don’t like you mom and dad.” What also tends to happen takes place a few weeks later and involves me saying “you know, they’re kinda starting to grow on me.” But don’t get me wrong, like any older-younger sibling relationship, we have our moments…

I like to wrap up with a little end blurb, so I’ll do that now. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, but school is wrapping up and coming to a close. What you just read isn’t word for word the piece I submitted, but the ideas are there. If you have any questions or want to talk to someone who’s had experiences like this, feel free to talk to me. I like to say I’ve seen it all and most situations, from struggling teens to lost kids, but every new person has something new to prove me wrong. Thanks for reading!