5 realities of life with Arab siblings

Siblings, you love them, you hate them. You can't live neither with, nor without them.

This applies to Arab siblings in particular ... because they're always in your face, all the time. However, the minute their gone you want them back immediately.

As Arab families are deeply family-oriented, we have mixed emotions about our siblings, unless someone else threatens them. Once they do ... that person is a goner.

Under any other circumstances though ... Arab siblings can be insufferable.

As a household really devoted to making huge amounts of food, siblings can be really stingy. My brothers and I are no exception to this rule, and if we had tabbouleh at lunch, we have to fight over who has tabbouleh beiti (leftover tabbouleh) that night. It's strange because I'd be happy to share food with any of my friends, but when it comes to my brothers? Game on.

Never expect no strings attached if a sibling does you a favor. Never expect your siblings to do you a favor at all! As the youngest child, there are certain things your older siblings can do before you can. For example, driving. And once they can drive, parents seem to forget the moments in life when they used to drive them around. That doesn't exist, neither for you nor your little brothers and sisters. Enter me, asking my brother for a ride home from work.

Him: "I can't. I'm sick of driving and the traffic at five is crazy."

Me: *rolls eyes and hails a cab*

I'm pretty sure all siblings experience this. I mean, I've already said that I'm the youngest (and only) sister and even I fight with my brothers ... who are both at least 20 cm taller than me. My only tactics are biting, scratching and calling for baba as soon as he's home. Don't forget to use ancient Arab weaponry, such as wooden spoons or your sermayeh (slipper).

As Arabs, we really have an extensive vocabulary when it comes to swear words. Not only do we mix English and Arabic, we also make up Arabic curse words that don't really make sense. Because, anything can be a curse word if you have enough creativity. Really, it's almost an art, because you have to be able to not get caught by your parents as well.

There's only one time kids team up, and that point is when it's versus the parents.

"No mom, we don't want to go see some random woman we barely know who used to make ka'k el eid for us when we were younger."

"No dad, we don't want to go eat at a Lebanese restaurant for the third time this week, they're all the same!"

Remember, there's strength in numbers.

Disclaimer: I love my entire family please don't disown me!