1. They act as a mother/father figure.
What’s better than one mom? Two. Your real mom may bail you out of trouble, but she isn’t the most ideal person to dial when you’re too drunk to drive home. There are situations you'd prefer to keep from your parents and this is where your sibling comes in handy. They’re the ones to save you without judgment because they’ve been there too.
2. You have an automatic best friend.
If you ever had trouble making friends in school, it would be okay because you already had one at home. What friendship could be stronger than one you’ve had since birth?
It might not have always been this way. While you were in the age of innocence, they may have started experiencing adolescence. It’s hard to relate to someone going through a different stage in life. But as you get older, it feels like less of an age gap. You are able to see each other as peers with equality in maturity.
3. You can tell them everything.
Big brothers and sisters are usually open with their parents. They didn’t always have you, so who else would they talk to? Younger siblings are seen as babies—no matter how old they get. They may want to preserve this image that their family has of them. To keep the halos hanging above their heads, they use their older siblings as an outlet to tell their secrets to.
4. You can learn from their mistakes.
They’ve already gone through experiences you’re on the road to facing. They share their wisdom and advice as someone who experienced it firsthand.
But no matter how much they want you to learn from their mistakes, they’ll let you live your life. They can share all the advice they can, but they also know you have to make your own mistakes sometimes.
5. They give your life structure.
You have the luxury of being a little more reckless because they act as your safety net when you fall. Be grateful—they didn’t have someone available to pick up the pieces like you did. They had to catch themselves the hard way.
6. They broke your parents in.
They paved the way for how you would be treated in the household. After the first child, your parents learned that enforcing strict rules doesn’t always work as a parenting style.
7. They go out of their way for you.
They got their licenses first, so they played chauffeur for you until you got yours. You didn’t think much of it, and possibly took it for granted, but it was a real chore that they set their time aside for.
8. They are your mentors.
You picked up their mannerisms during childhood. Although you have grown into your own person, you can’t deny there was a point you wanted to copy everything they did. Everything they wore or did was cool in your eyes.
9. You can’t replicate the bond you have.
Despite any differences you have, there is a chemistry between you two that is unique. When you are on the same team on board-game night, you two are unstoppable. (Extra points for sibling telepathy!) There are certain inside jokes you will cry of laughter from while others in the room share blank stares.
10. They understand your crazy family.
You were raised under the same roof and grew up in the same environment. Only they will know how to deal with your family’s quirks.
11. You’re stuck with each other for life.
They have seen you at your rawest, ugliest moments and have still chosen to stand by you. Bound by blood, you can’t break up with each other.
