# From hating my sister to being best friends

> A 10-year age gap made us enemies as kids, but now we're closer than ever.
- Title: From hating my sister to being best friends · Business Insider
- Summary: A 10-year age gap made us enemies as kids, but now we're closer than ever. Large age gaps between siblings can create early conflict, but often transform…
- Keywords: siblings, age gap, sister relationship, family dynamics, only child, sibling rivalry, buffy the vampire slayer, hellmouth con, los angeles, new york city, bisexual, coming out
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/sibling-age-gap-relationship-dynamic-2026-9
- Author: Hayley Folk
- Published: 2026-09-16T10:06:01.336+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: siblings, age gap, sister relationship, family dynamics, only child, sibling rivalry, buffy the vampire slayer, hellmouth con, los angeles, new york city, bisexual, coming out
## Ten years between sisters
At 10 years old, she learned she'd have a baby sister. The age gap made them feel freakish and out of place.
## Living in different worlds
While one sister navigated puberty and middle school, the other was learning to walk. They couldn't relate at all.

> Me: going through early stages of awkward puberty, braces, unsure if I liked boys and girls, and braving middle school. Her: a baby then outgrowing diapers.
## Constant fighting and mothering
The older sister felt forced to mother Hanna after their mom struggled with addiction and disappeared from their lives.
## A Buffy convention changed everything
At 31 and 21, they attended Hellmouth Con in LA together. Sharing a love for the show brought them closer.

> I couldn't help but think, Wow, we've really come a long way.
## From bossy to mentor
Their dynamic shifted from antagonistic siblings to mentor and best friend. They now see each other almost every day.
## Supporting each other's journeys
The older sister helped Hanna move to New York and land a job. Hanna felt safe coming out about her sexuality.
## Age gaps shrink over time
What once divided them now barely matters. They've gone from hating each other to loving each other more than ever.

> Whatever the reason, I'm just glad we don't hate each other anymore. In fact, in a lovely turn of events, we love each other more than ever.
## Key takeaway

Large age gaps between siblings can create early conflict, but often transform into meaningful mentor-mentee relationships as both siblings mature.