By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
7 things only sisters will understand
cf014fc9df327df8fec6a0b9f05781238e947db0392feb42369b4639c0fca12e
There's no better friend than a sister. - photo by McKenna Park
Theres no one who can love you, annoy you and be your best friend all at the same like a sister can. From old memories of your mom dressing you in matching frilly outfits to recent ones of your crazy adventures together, you couldnt imagine your life without her. Theres a special bond that only sisters have, and only people who have that bond can relate to these seven things:

1. You dont have just one closet (and neither does she)

For better or for worse, sisters are clothing stealers. It is fun to enjoy the benefits of twice the outfits to choose from (that is, if you can get away with). While you rummage through her closet, she might just be searching through yours at the same time.

2. No friendship compares to "sistership"

Best friends are great, but theres just something unique and irreplaceable about that friendship that happens between sisters. Maybe it's something about being being forced to be friends by birth, but the bond the two of you have is strong and awesome.

3. Some of your weirdest moments have been around her

When youre around your sister, you can really let go. You crank up the music and belt out the song lyrics in weird voices, you dance crazily around the bedroom and just act goofy because you feel the most comfortable around your sisters.

4. Despite your long history of sister brawls, you really love each other

I know two sisters who literally gave each other scars from scratching fights when they were younger, but theyre as close as can be. Sisters, especially those close in age, are prone to arguments and fights but that doesnt change the special loving bond you have for each other (even if you really do have battle wounds).

5. Shes your go-to person for venting

Whether you just broke up with a boyfriend or you are dealing with a frustrating coworker, you can always go to her for a good venting session. Wearing sweats and eating ice cream arent necessary, but are recommended for these sister chats.

6. Something feels like its missing when youre apart

That sisterly bond makes you feel somewhat empty when the two of you are apart. Spending time together is the absolute best when youre not together, you miss her more than anyone (and you cant wait until you can get back together again).

7. When you see each other again its just like old times

Siblings grow up, move out and eventually start their own adult lives. That can mean way too much time spent apart from your sis, but when you see her again after all that time, its as if nothings changed. You may both be grown up, but once you are together, you'll still feel like the little girls who grew up together.

Even if your sister ends up living across the country, youll still stick by each others side just like old times. There is no better friend than a sister, and there's no better sister than your own.
Sign up for our E-Newsletters
How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
ce406c66b9871a104ac24256a687e4821d75680dcfc89d9e5398939543f7f88f
A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
Latest Obituaries