How can I make it up to my younger step-sister after treating her like **** for 3 years?

Question

I'm almost 17, and she's (Rilee) almost 14, and we have never gotten along. My other step-sister (Leslie) and I (she just turned 18) were best friends in middle school, so when our parents got married we were excited and all. But her little sister and I, idk. we always fought. and then Les and I in the beginning of high school got involved in everything bad. we were mad teenagers and took it out on our parents and younger sibs by being rebellious, agressive, and stupid. we got all caught up in smoking, drugs, drinking, s*x, you name it. I was the worst to Rilee, i just went out of my way to make her miserable, and she fought back full force. and then last january les became a christian and got all of her **** together. stopped pretty much everything. and told me she wasn't gonna put up with my c**p anymore either. and last month, at a youth camp, i became a christian too. and i feel really horrible about how i treated rilee. we still don't get along, and still fight, but not as much as we used to. but she hates my guts, and i don't blame her. she's really angry, and is just like les and i used to be before we started with the s*x and drinking. i'm scared that she's gonna do the exact same thing we did. i don't know what to do. i've apologized to her, but she just told me to, well i'm not gonna type what she said cause i don't want to offend anyone, but what can i do? i'm scared for her, and its all my fault.

Answer 1

Actions speak louder than words, and in this case, it might take awhile of you being a caring older sibling for her to forgive you. You treated her like c**p for three years and that hurt her self-esteem, so you just have to wait.

Answer 2

Print out this question and give it to her.  Tell her that you really regret the way you have treated her in the past, and that you hope she can forgive you and you can build a friendship and be more like sisters.

Know that it will take time-you two are not going to suddenly be friends overnight.  Do not patronize her, but do show you care and really mean what you are saying.  Slowly, over time, things should improve.

I wish you the best!

Answer 3

It takes time for things like this to heal. I think you should go out of your way to be nice to her, like you went out of your way to be mean. Eventually she'll forgive you because she needs you. You don't get very far without family.

Answer 4

well, an apology was good, but words don't matter.  take it from a little sister in a similar situation.  Just start being nice (not too nice, sucking up and stuff) but just start being the sister you should've been.  after a while the mend will heal.  but it will take some time.