Sisters, Labels, and the Stories We Carry

What can sisterhood teach us about raising children?

In the very first episode of Ground Control Parenting Book Talk, I explore this question with award-winning journalist Deborah Roberts, author of Sisters, Loved and Treasured: Stories of Unbreakable Bonds. Ground Control Parenting Book Talk is a new recurring feature in Season 8 where we look at books through a parenting lens and uncover valuable parenting lessons. Great to start this new feature off with Deborah, who is a great friend of GCP!

As one of six sisters herself, Deborah brings both personal experience and a reporter’s curiosity to the subject. She and I explored some of the parenting themes that surfaced again and again in the stories she collected, and in her relationship with her sisters.

We talked about comparison and the labels that so often emerge within families. The smart one. The pretty one. The athletic one. The shy one. Deborah reflects candidly on the roles that developed among her sisters, while I shared my own experience growing up as the youngest and only girl. Our conversation is a reminder that children often carry these labels far longer than we realize, and that parents should take the opportunity to be thoughtful about the stories family members tell about one another.

We also tackled the uncomfortable subject of favoritism. Deborah shares a moving conversation with one of her sisters, who admitted that she always believed Deborah was their mother’s favorite. What follows is an honest discussion about how children experience family dynamics, how those perceptions can shape sibling relationships, and how empathy and understanding can help families make sense of those experiences years later.

One of my favorite parts of the conversation centered on loyalty. So many of the women Deborah interviewed described an unshakable instinct to protect their sisters, even during periods when they were arguing or barely speaking. It raises an interesting question for parents: can we teach that kind of devotion? Deborah’s answer may surprise you.

We also spent time discussing the close relationship between Deborah’s daughter, Leila, and her stepdaughter, Courtney. Their strong bond did not happen overnight. It grew through patience, maturity, and the work of creating a family across complicated circumstances. Their story offers an important reminder for parents in blended families that while we cannot force closeness, we can help create the conditions where it has room to grow.

Our conversation offered several truths that apply to parenting all children: we cannot control every relationship our children will have. We cannot make siblings close, eliminate every rivalry, or guarantee lifelong friendship. What we can do is model connection, create opportunities for kindness, and build a family culture that values empathy, respect, and belonging.

Listen to What Sisters Teach Us About Parenting with Deborah Roberts, or watch us on our YouTube channel. Whether you have daughters or sons, I think you’ll find something meaningful in this conversation. It is ultimately about how family relationships shape who we become and what parents can do to help those relationships thrive. And if you haven’t already read Deborah’s book, Sisters, Loved and Treasured: Stories of Unbreakable Bonds, be sure to pick up a copy!

Thanks to Paramount for their ongoing sponsorship, to the Seneca Women Podcast Network for their support, and to DonorsChose for their philanthropic partnership. And of course, thank YOU for being part of the Ground Control Parenting community.

Enjoy,