When you’re the “baby” of the family, life can be a little difficult. Especially when your eldest brother left for college before you turned 6. When you’re the youngest, you get tickled constantly, tricked into doing things, and blamed for breaking all of the old toys. However it does have some perks. Especially when your two older brothers and your older sister are some of the most amazing people you know. I’ll try not to be too sappy, but my siblings are my role models. Aside from amazing humans that raised us, they are probably some of the best people on this planet, besides their families are pretty sweet too.
When I was five, my eldest brother left for college, for years I would commonly joke I wanted to be just like him. Even to the point where, until I turned twelve my favorite color was orange, because when I was four he had told me that was his favorite color. He has taught me the importance of constantly learning. Whenever prompted with a question on various topics, response of “Oh, I have a book for that” echoes through my head. Always willing to have a teaching moment or a heart-to-heart over the events that are occurring around the world, he is there.
These past few months, I have had the chance to spend my days on the east coast with him and his family. Only knowing him as the annoying older brother who jokingly held me over a ten-foot ledge, I had never had the chance to see him in his natural environment. The compassion and patience that he has for his three little girls and wife is truly inspiring. His motivation in getting up at 4am almost everyday to do Crossfit before heading to work, making sure chores get done around the house and still having time for loved ones, blows my mind.
My “older-younger brother,” taught me the importance of the use of words, for instance when he taught me to say “woe is me” when I was a distraught five year old. My mom always jokes that his mouth “will end him in front of an audience or a judge.” He taught me the importance of using sarcasm and having a quick wit. However, he taught me to be kind in my actions. I remember when he was a senior in high school and I was a little second grader and he spent his Friday night watching Ice Princess and eating sour cream and onion chips with his little sister.
I see his kindness in his two daughters and his son. They recently raised over $700 for children in foster care so that they may send them Bibles. They are also currently looking into investing some of this money to get beds for these children. Mind you, these three are only 7,6 and 5. They are already impacting the world with sarcastic remarks and physically making a difference. He and his wife work tirelessly to make sure their children understand the importance that their actions have on the world.
A mere six years older than me, my one and only sister has been the most present in my childhood; even if most that time was yelling at each other or her comforting my teary eyes. The quiet one of the family, she taught the importance of voicing exactly what you want to say and that you don’t have to reply. The art of being alone is something everyone must learn, and this extrovert got daily lessons from her introverted sister. No longer the little sister left in the closet while playing hide and go seek, my sister and I are closer than ever. Always being there to help me pay for my books or drive down for an afternoon.
She’s taught me the importance of having a “seeester.” Who else would have taught me that “fajita” should be pronounced “fa-jita” or that “escape” is “es-cah-pay”? Who would have taught me that cat memes are some of the best things on this planet, and that Jane Austen is an amazing writer? She failed to teach me how to make cookies though…so there’s that. She’s taught me to do my own thing even when the family questions it, to be my own person and to be okay with that.
I didn’t have the typical childhood, where playing with siblings was a daily occurrence. They didn’t come to my first concert; they weren’t all there when I graduated high school. That’s okay though. My brothers are on different sides of the country, and I only see them, maybe, once a year. I know for a fact, however, if I ever need anything they’re only a call away. My guide as I entered college, through heartbreak, stress and mental breakdowns, my sister was there. None of my siblings share my love of country music or my passion for Greek life. However, we all share a bond stronger than anything, family. Distance is only a number but love, even sibling love, defies that distance. If I become half the person, of any one of my siblings, I would consider myself truly blessed.
