The feelings and sensations associated with joining a sisterhood are so overwhelming and magical that no sister, regardless of her badge or her age, can explain them. There is a je ne sais quoi about sisterhood that humbles women while making them confident. It propels them forward yet makes them careful. It transforms them, but it keeps them true to themselves. In a way, sisterhood, like the love from which it comes, is the closest we can get to magic. It comes as no surprise, then, that for the past few weeks women all over the nation have been running into the open arms of their new sisters, role models, biggest fans, and Bigs. In case you don't know, these last ones are the women who take it upon themselves to mother, tutor, friend, advise, take care of, and cherish the living daylights out of their new members. They are blessed with finding, in "Grey's Anatomy" terms, their humans. I haven't had the pleasure of finding my human yet, but I hope I will soon. In the meantime, these are my Big vows to my future Little.
My Dearest Tiny One,
From the moment I met you, I knew you were meant to be my Little. You are probably the most amazing person I have ever met, and I am blessed to call you my Smalls. I know that you are probably eager, nervous, excited, and terrified; it is normal to feel that way. Joining a sisterhood is all those things and much more. You will go through Taylor Swift ranges of emotions constantly, and our sisters will send you on feels trips so often, you will have frequent-flyer miles. This is a journey like no other, and I am blessed and honored to have been chosen as your companion.
I promise to always be there for you. You will never have to feel alone or lost as long as I exist. I will always be either right next to you or a short text away. In fact, I will give you my home address, my two emails, my boyfriend's contact information, and my parents' phone numbers, too. I will drop whatever it is that I am doing and go find you if you ever need me, regardless of why you need me there. I don't ever want you to feel like I am inaccessible or too busy for you.
I promise to be your biggest cheerleader and supporter. Be it for finals or intramural sports or at the dressing room while you shop for clothes, I promise to always tell you how amazing, smart, clever, funny, and perfect you are. I will always encourage you to follow your dreams in any way I can -- even if it means going to the gym every day (yuck!) and eating salads for the rest of my life with you. You can do anything you set your mind to do. I believe in you, smalls.
I promise to spoil you. Every single one of our sisters is going to be so jealous of you! You are going to get all the letters, crafts, hand-painted coolers, posters, and jewelry you could ever want. You are going to get those cute little survival packets that Bigs make for their Littles for midterms, finals, formal, date dash, and recruitment. I will make a point of learning your likes and dislikes when it comes to food, clothes, boys, and life. You deserve all these things and more, because regardless of how many things I do or give you, you still give me a million times more love and caring by being in my life.
I promise to take care of you. I will always have Band-Aids, Advil, Midol, chocolate, and whatever else you might need, handy. I will buy you millions of packs of tissues and cheesy movies. I will find a way to get you Starbucks coffee at ungodly hours while you study and a printer when no one else can find one. I promise to get you chicken soup when you are sick and to go with you to doctor's appointments if you need me. I promise to protect you in any way I can while still letting you make those mistakes that will make you into the woman you are meant to be. As long as I am on this earth, you can count on me to make things right when you are lost and in despair.
Finally, I promise to love you every step of the way. I will love you at your best and at your worst. I promise to remember that you are human and that you make mistakes. I swear to help you fix each and every one of them. I will find a way to balance my duty as your mentor and as your friend. I swear to never allow anything to get between us, because nothing else is as important as you are. I promise to be there for that break-up, for that big fight with your best friend, for your graduation, your wedding, the first, second, and third times you give birth, and to spoil your children the way I spoiled you. I promise that, no matter how much time passes or how many miles get between us, you will always have a luxury penthouse apartment in my heart.
I love you forever, Little,
Your Big.
