Let’s be honest, at one point in our life we have all wondered what it would be like to be an only child. Always getting to bring a friend with on vacation, getting all the attention from your parents (although this can also be a bad thing) and getting to pick where you go to dinner and not having anyone argue over it with you. We think it would be such a simpler time if it was just you and your parents.

But then we think to ourselves how boring life would be if you didn’t have that one person who was there for you constantly, who knows just what to do to make you mad, who knows how to make you laugh so hard you cry, who knows just what to do to get you yelled at because “you’re the older sibling and you should know better” and who had your back in whatever argument you were in with your parents.

Being the older sibling is both a blessing and a curse. First of all, your parents will watch you like a hawk and ask you a million questions about what you’re doing, where you’re going and who is going to be there. But when it comes time when your siblings ask to do something, they say yes and ask no questions. You are constantly having to watch what you say or do because you want to set a good example. You slip up once, just once! You know consequences will be had, because of when it is repeated and your parents find out what you have done!

You always have a friend that is there to talk to you when you are having a rough day, going through a break up or just want to share a story about what happened to you that day. Your brother(s)/sister(s) will be there for you no matter what! You know more about each other’s lives than anyone else’s. It breaks your heart to see them in pain and when they cry it is automatically your mission to make them smile and laugh.

You always have someone who is up for those random Walmart runs, movie marathons, and ice cream or fast food trips that turn into hanging out with both of your friend groups. Knowing that they are right down the hall when you can’t sleep and want to binge watch Criminal Minds on Netflix is a great feeling because you know that they will always be willing to stay up with you and explain what is going on because even though they have already watched it they don’t mind watching it again.

You know that no matter what they will not judge you. Sure they will make fun of you but that’s just because they don’t want you know that they do genuinely care about you. Your siblings always look up to you, and will always come to you when your parents just do not understand. You have inside jokes that no one else would ever understand, and you wouldn’t have it any other way!

So thank you to all the younger siblings out there because without you, our lives would not be as exciting as they are today.