Being the oldest sibling is a responsibility. It's a responsibility with so many rewards embedded within it. Not much about it is easy. As the oldest, there are a lot of things we are responsible for. We cook dinner when mom isn't home, wash the school uniforms, and make sure we give our younger siblings the advice we wish we had gotten when we were their age.
We're the buffer in a lot of situations. As an older sibling, our younger siblings are much like children of our own. We would go to the ends of the earth to protect them and provide for them. While we are still busy being the older responsible sibling, we despise the work and time it consumes in our lives.
Being the older sibling is something we take for granted sometimes. We don't appreciate how much our younger siblings look up to us. We are everything they wish to be. Eventually, there comes a time when we have to leave home. Leaving our younger siblings behind is the hardest thing that we do as older siblings.
Underneath all the excitement of leaving and being on our own in the college world, our heart really breaks leaving behind the people that we love most. We begin to question if we are leaving them prepared to go through weeks or maybe even months without us. College is great, making new friends is great, but taking care of yourself and meeting new people isn't as fulfilling as taking care of people that you have watched grow up.
To my younger siblings, Dylan and Makenzie. I'm sorry that I'm not home. I know that you see all the fun things that I do now that I'm in college, but don't ever think that I don't miss you—because I do. Not a day passes where I don't think about you and miss you. No matter how busy or how tired I am, always know that I will never be too tired or too busy for you. Never be afraid to ask me for anything and never be afraid to ask me to come home, because I promise you that I will. I'm always here for you.
I pray that, when I left, I left with the accomplishment of having taught you the things that you needed to know. I hope that I have set a good example for you. I have worked hard making sure that you two understand the importance of hard work. If you work hard enough, you will get the things that you wish for. Although hard work is important, I want you both to not always be concerned about the future or about what life may throw at you tomorrow.
Don't forget to live in the moment. Live every day like it is your last, but be safe enough so that it isn't. Keep your grades up, and always be the honest, kindhearted people that I know you are. Work hard, play hard, and never forget that KK loves you with her whole heart.
