To start with a little disclaimer: I have a total of 32 cousins that live in America and tons more (to be honest, I don't know how many) that live in India. 5 of my cousins go to the same school as me, and 6 live in my neighborhood.
Among all the family reunions and random parties, there are 12 of us that always stick together and are so close to one another. They are the reason why sometimes I feel like I don't need other friends of my own because they are there for me no matter what. Here are some reasons why I feel like they are my best partners-in-crime:
We do EVERYTHING together!
Literally. Going out shopping, having a birthday party, spending time at the pool...you name it. My cousins do quite literally everything with me and know pretty much everything about my life.
No family party can ever be boring with them around
Whether we play board games or cards, watch a movie, play a physical game, or even just talk, there seem to never be times when we are bored with each other. Any lame party becomes exciting when I realize all my cousins will be there to entertain me!
Everyone says we're #famgoals :)
That's right. We're that squad of cousins that are always hanging out together and put it on our stories and Instagram feeds. Everyone knows we're related, and everyone loves how cute our family is.
They are 24/7 entertainment
If I'm ever bored and alone at home, all I need to do is walk outside for five minutes to my cousin's house and spend the rest of the day there. BAM! Simple as that, and I'm never bored in my life. Like I said before, we'll definitely find something to do once I get there.
Sleepovers are the best part of school holiday breaks
Every single time we have an extra-long weekend or an entire week off of school, the first thing we think about is planning another epic sleepover. From cards to desserts to Just Dance to watching random Netflix movies, there are plenty of things to keep us up all night. And we wake up to fresh waffles and pancakes with chocolate chips and whipped cream in the morning. Mmmm, I'm getting excited for the next break just thinking about it!
I always have backup right by my side
If I want to go somewhere with my friends or want to buy something and need to convince my parents first, I know I can always count on my cousins to back me up. Out of all my cousins, one of them is closest to me in age and has been my best friend and soul sister for life. The good part about her being in the same friend group as me is that we have a mutual relationship when it comes to making fun plans - I help convince her mom, and she helps convince my mom.
I don't need to have filters with them
No matter what I'm feeling, I can always be 100% honest about what's going on in my life because I know they'll be there to support me in any given scenario. I don't have to be careful with my words because I can tell them quite literally everything.
Our inside jokes can keep me laughing for centuries
Imagine spending 17 years with pretty much the same people for every event, festival, and party... Of course the bank of memories you would build with that group would be overflowing with good, bad, and everything. That's exactly my position. With memories from every single day, minute, and second we have spent together of our lives, we have hundreds and hundreds of jokes that never fail to make us laugh at any given time.
They're only one text away...
If I ever need anything - and when I say anything, I mean everything - I always know exactly where to go for help. Whether it be for advice or just someone to cheer me up, someone is always there with an ear and is ready to go through any extent to make sure that a smile returns to my face. Oh, and also they give me honest opinions when I can't decide what to buy during shopping sprees.
We get to embarrass each other and ourselves
We can flex on other people about how we close we are by simply exposing all the embarrassing stories of each other. By getting into this never-ending chain of fun old stories, we'll go on and on for ages and by the end, not only will we have completely destroyed our own reputations but also have let out a million laughs along the way.
I feel proud all the time!
With tons of cousins living just a couple minutes away from me, I know just about everything in their lives just like they know about mine. And trust me, all my cousins are intelligent human beings and so accomplished in various aspects. I always have someone or something to be proud about and we all get enthusiastic for even the smallest of things in each other's lives.
Whether it's their choice or not, they'll always be there for me
After all, family is family. They're expected to always have your back and will always be around you no matter how far you go. My cousins are some of my best supporters (and sometimes my best 'insulters') but they will never ever fail to keep a smile on my face and fill my heart with love and joy.
Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health, says science
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