More times than not, I look around and see girls that have sisters and I become jealous. I am constantly envious because I think that they have some sort of relationship that I could only dream of. I think to myself, "wow it must be nice having someone to share clothes with, to talk about boys with, or to go to the mall with". But then, I think about my older brother. I think about how blessed I am to have him and about how lucky I am that I have him instead of a sister. Sure, it would be super nice to have someone to vent to every once in awhile, or someone to help me pick out my outfit, but he actually does much more than a sister ever could. My brother is in all honesty one of my best friends and he is someone in my life that nobody could ever replace. We fight often, and yes, we do not always see eye to eye, but in the end, he is my partner in crime and I could not do life without him. Here are a few reasons why I wouldn't trade my brother for the world:
He had showed me how to be tough, both physically and mentally
With being 4 years younger than my brother, growing up wasn't always easy. At 7 years old I would be hanging out with a bunch of 12 year old boys playing kickball and getting trampled over constantly. Or, I would be in our fishing boat trying to catch turtles so we could later on sell them to the neighbors. Girls who have older brothers tend to make the strongest people. From years of experience with teasing, name calling, brutal kickball games, and telling you "straight-up" how it is, you begin to be able to handle a lot. It is like you have formed thick skin from everything that had constantly been thrown at you. It might have been hard when you were young, but now, being older, you know how to stand up for yourself and have your voice heard. So it may seem like it was torture as a young girl, but just realize how strong he has actually made you.
All of his friends end up becoming your older brothers too
Growing up with your older brother means that you actually have more than just one older brother. Even though he might be the only one related to you through blood, all of his close friends look at you as their "little sister" too. This group of boys are the ones that will constantly look out for you, and if someone hurts you, they will know it. Ex-boyfriends, current boyfriends, girls at school, anyone for that matter, are most definitely going to receive degrading nicknames and sometimes even rumors spread about them. Yes, it can be super embarrassing, and it may even make you mad, but it always comes from a good place. In addition to protecting you, they will always want to be around you. Whether it is having beers on the lake, or watching the football game together, they do enjoy your presence.
He taught you about how you should be treated
Too often these days, us girls let ourselves get treated poorly. And we let it happen, over and over and over again. We constantly sell ourselves short, and make ourselves believe that what we are getting is what we deserve. However, when you have an older brother, he always makes sure YOU KNOW how you should be treated. Growing up, watching how your brother will treat women in his life, like your mom or maybe even his own girlfriend, sets the standard you have for guys in your life. No matter you want to believe it or not, many times you will date someone similar to your brother. The strong bond you have with your brother is something we almost always try to imitate with our significant other.
It is easier to understand boys and why they do the things that they do
Boys are hard to deal with, hard to understand, and so hard to live with. We often can't comprehend why they do what they do, or why they say some of the things that come out of their mouth. Boys have given us more anxiety than studying for our four finals we have to take in college. But, having an older brother gives you a up close and personal look as to how they treat girls. Seeing how they act towards girls, really gives good insight that you should never pass up.
You have a best friend for life
Finally, I am just so thankful. Having an older brother is like having a best friend for the rest of your life. You have inside jokes, memories, and experiences shared together that will last a lifetime. You will always have someone to laugh with at family gatherings, someone to look out for you, and someone that will always be there for you. Having a brother is something that should never be taken for granted. I wouldn't be who I am today without him, and I know he will always care for me unconditionally.
There is nobody else in this world that will ever have your back like an older brother does. He is always going to be there for you, and he will always be in your life. Even though you went through years of fighting, teasing, and crying with him, all of that is what made you the person you are today. And all of that, made you a strong, fun, loving, and caring girl that can do anything that she puts her mind too. Never forget that, and always remember that you will have a best friend for life supporting you through every decision you make.
