Think about how you feel about your siblings, those of you who have them.

My sister and brother and I are two years apart each. I'm the eldest. They are among the most special people in my life, and I love both of them to bits, even though we don't see each other as much at this time in our lives as at other times.

When you think about it: your siblings are the only people who are part of your life for almost your entire life. Parents will, in the nature of things, die. Friends come and go. Children don't arrive until you are a fair way through your life. But your brothers and sisters have been there from the start and will be there with you always. What could be more amazing or more special than that?

I think that my siblings are the greatest gift my parents ever gave me. It sure makes up for being jealous of them when they were born (actually I don't remember when my sister was born, as I was only 2, but by the time my brother was born I certainly remember how boring mum was all the time, feeding him). And it makes up for having less attention because I was part of a larger family.

I hope to give my DD siblings who are close enough to her in age that they can be true friends, as I am with mine, and travel their lives together, as I do with mine. If we can't do that (and we'll certainly try, but nothing guaranteed, at my age), she will be the loser, in my opinion.