[jodyk]

I'm 2 1/2 years older than my sister. As little children, I was the typical older child. But long about when my sister grew taller than me (when I was in about 7th or 8th grade), some of that started to change. She was also more outgoing than I was and more sure of what she wanted. (I was also bullied as a child, and she often ran to protect me -- she had very long fingernails.)

By the time we grew up, we completely switched roles: She has the important career, a husband, a son, a house, 2 dogs. She seems sure of herself, able to handle all the "grown-up" things that come down the pike. I, on the other hand, have a "job" but not a career (although, to be fair, I never was very career-oriented, despite my education), an apartment, 2 cats. It took until about 3 years ago for me to get up the courage to do what I always wanted: become a foster parent.

We are relatively happy with this role reversal, and I'm always surprised when my little sister says she admires me for doing what I've done; I've always looked up to her -- literally and figuratively.