My birthday is next weekend, the big 30. To mark it, I’ve secured a new Mulberry and a day out with my sister for some sacred sibling time. As last year’s present was a baby bash from Theo and an NHS nose job, to be honest, a Lidl carrier bag would be an improvement.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that since she became Aunty Sally, I rarely get her to myself for more than five minutes.  Such is Sal’s popularity that it may even be a struggle to get on the train without a surprise stowaway. Same goes for my brother, although I’m not sure a day trekking round Topshop is really his thing.

When we were growing up, any arguments would be resolved by Mum putting us all in the same room to figure it out alone. A little infuriating at the time, this must be why we communicate so well now. Despite temper tantrums and sleepless nights (from us, not the babies) we don’t generally suffer from sibling strife. Bro always had my back buying me bottles of Hooch before parties and fending off any would-be bullies. Not a lot has changed, although Chris would be pretty offended if I so much as suggested an alco-pop. Sally’s forgiven me for the time I said that we’d probably not be friends if in the same school year group, and still reminisces about me ironing our hair. Bearing in mind, school before straighteners was tough.

I see so much of myself as a sibling in Lyla and Theo. Time with my brother and sister was my favourite thing then, and is still my favourite thing now. On days the kids are bashing each other I think about the moment they can be safely left to squabble. Saying that, we didn’t have past form- Theo’s bone breaking capabilities could require an alternative solution.

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