If you know me at all, you know that my brothers are two of my favorite people. We're best friends, and they're one of the best parts about being home for part of this summer.
One thing most people find surprising when I talk about my brothers is hearing that my youngest brother and I have a fourteen-year age gap, while my other brother is three years younger than me. While it still weirds me out that people think Harrison is my child when we're out places, he has been one of the biggest blessings in our family and Conley and I wouldn't be the same without him. Over the years I've learned a few lessons with such a big age gap:
He has taught me all about responsibility, respect for my parents, and generosity.
Being present for all of the late nights of crying, the "terrible two's", and the overall work it takes to raise a child has made me so much more thankful for my parents. From picking Harrison up from school to making him lunch or getting him ready to go somewhere, it has also made me realize just how unnoticed a parent's work is.
I can be a kid again without having to explain myself.
Whether this means building a blanket fort in the living room, playing with Play-Doh, or running through the backyard with the sprinklers on, Harrison reminds me that nobody has to grow up entirely, and I've loved having a reason to be "little" again.
He surprises me with his wisdom.
My Twitter feed is constantly inspired by the goofy things my brother says, but now and then he gives us bits of wisdom that are beyond his years (usually said with humor, but you get the idea). Some of these include, "Some questions just don't have answers", and "The older you get the harder life gets; it was a lot easier when I was four."
He has his own unique personality.
Everyone jokes that Harrison is a 50/50 split between me and his older brother: he has OCD tendencies like me but takes after Conley's musical abilities, and he's known for copying my sarcasm but never meets a stranger like his brother. However, his own personality is one of the best parts about him, and it's cool to watch him develop his own ideas. He's currently fascinated with how the brain works and he loves to ask questions about everything. 
He challenges me to be a good example.
With the number of years we have between us and me going to college in a different city, sometimes it seems like he's growing up as an only child, but every time I come home to visit I am reminded of just how much he looks up to me. I try to be intentional about having a relationship with him, and I want to always be someone he would be proud of.
