Your siblings know you better than anyone else. They’ve witnessed your most embarrassing tantrums and seen you at your absolute worst moments, but they’ve also shared your most cherished childhood memories and been the reason behind so many of them. Siblings are the friends that you don’t get to choose but could never live without, and having an older sibling by your side made growing up all the more fun. Here are five things you should have thanked your older sibling for, but never did.

1. Taking The Blame

Even if I was the one to start our arguments or if it was my idea to be mischievous in some way, you somehow ended up with the blame at least 80 percent of the time. Thank you for accepting the fact that being the older sibling came with this responsibility, and not telling Mom and Dad when it was actually my fault.

2. Letting Me Win

I still blame Mario Kart for igniting the road rage that I continue to struggle with today (sorry for throwing your Nintendo controllers across the room when I got last place). However, when I was frustrated with my inability to keep up, whether we were playing video games or racing each other to the other side of the park, you always made sure to give me a victory or two in order to boost my confidence.

3. Driving Me Around

Being the first sibling to get a driver’s license was cool until you were forced to drive me to practice, pick me up from school and take me to and from my friends’ houses everyday. Thank you for being my taxi service free of charge, and accepting that I will probably never pay you back for all the gas you wasted driving me around.

4. Looking Out For Me

There is no one more protective than an older sibling. Whether I was hurt, heart broken or in trouble, you were always there to ask, “Who do I need to beat up?” I could always count on you for comfort when I needed it most, and know that I still can.

5. Being My Number One Friend

No matter how much we fought and got on each other’s nerves when we were kids, you were still my favorite person to hang out with. My childhood would have been filled with a lot less laughter and fun if it weren’t for you, so thank you for being my best friend and role model through it all. I love you.