Dads get a lot of credit, but you'll soon come to realize that really it's your brother who stays by your side through everything. Sure, my dad has his own "day of the year," but my dad doesn't do half the things my brother does for me. My brother and I have our own language, he gets angry when someone says something about me that he doesn't like or agree with, he keeps my secrets, he makes me laugh, he's one of my biggest supporters, he keeps me humble and he always values my advice. So I thank him for being a huge part of my life today.
1. He’s required to like me.
I may be weird, I may be crazy, I may have my good habits and my bad habits. And he’ll have his, but we’re family. No matter what, we’ll protect each other.
2. He understands my crazy family.
Only he gets what family vacations are like or what visits to grandparents’ houses are like or our spontaneous Saturday night trips to the outlets.
3. I tell him everything.
He knows all my secrets, and I know all his. Things our parents don’t even know, we know about each other. He may hate listening to me ramble or vent, but I know deep down he cares and he’ll look out for me. Whenever I’m hurting, despite being four years younger, he puts on his Big Brother shoes and does what he needs to in order to protect me.
4. He loves me whether I’m at my best or I’m at my worst.
He has been here for the best days of my life. But, he still accepts me even when I’ve made mistakes, big or small, and reminds me that we both know I’m better than that.
5. He tells me when to let go.
He knows what bothers me, and when it’s not worth the stress and anxiety, he reminds me I must let go for my own sake. He tells me to always breathe, stay calm, listen to your heart, be productive and be grateful.
6. Every day our bond gets stronger.
I’ve learned to accept that we both won’t be together every day. Even though I spend over nine months out of the house, I think about you every day. I’ve cried over stupid reasons like we don’t talk on the phone enough or that I’m not there for dinner with the rest of the family. You’ve stuck by my side. We’ve laughed over the smallest of things and we’ve fought over the dumbest of things, but I’m glad to have learned to live away from you. It has shown me the unconditional love you have for me and just how much you really mean to me.
So now, I thank my parents for giving me a beautiful baby brother (who isn’t such a baby anymore). He’s taught me so much more than anyone can ever imagine. The bond I share with him is the reason I push through my hardest days. He’s shown me that he’ll always be there to love me. He constantly reminds me to be my best and, for that, I am forever grateful.
