On November 29, 1998, at the age of 4 years old, I was blessed with a screaming and crying little brother. At the time, though, I did not feel blessed. According to my parents, I was pretty pissed when the doctors told my family a few months prior that I would be having a little brother. I wanted a little sister! How could the world give me a little, stinky, annoying brother? I was calmed down a few seconds later with a bag of peanut M&Ms.
I soon grew to adore my little brother. My parents have pictures of me carrying him around as a newborn (why they let a 4-year-old carry their newborn around the house I will never know, but he turned out fine). There are even more pictures of me sitting next to him laughing because I put my giant glasses on his tiny face. I loved being a big sister to this tiny human.
As he grew and learned how to walk and talk the rivalry began. He was such a butt! He knew exactly how to push my buttons. My dad always told me to ignore him. If I didn’t give him the power, he couldn’t upset me. I never learned how to do that, so I just let him piss me off. My brother and I had many brawls-– hair pulling, kicking, hitting and scratching brawls. There are a number of home videos of us fighting. One of my favorites was when my brother was three and I was seven. It was around the fourth of July, my mom is filming while I am trying to sing a Hilary Duff song. My brother keeps jumping in front of me dancing and doing exactly what I don’t want him to be doing. I continuously throw him out of view yelling at him to stop, while still trying to sing and whining to my mom to use her power to make him stop interrupting. The tape finally cuts out with my smiling brother about to throw a toy metal truck at me, while I scream on the ground with my hands covering my face.
I remember our rivalry lasting years, like most sibling rivalries do. I was the big, bossy sister who told my brother what to do and what not to do. He was the little, snotty, button-pushing brother who tested my patience time and time again. Occasionally, we got along, but there isn’t much proof of that on our home videos.
Around the time my brother entered middle school and I was in my second year of high school, the world finally felt at ease (mostly my parent's world). It seemed as if it was almost overnight, but my brother and I did not fight or argue anymore. I cannot even recall how it happened but ever since that moment, my brother and I have not even had a tiff.
My brother and I get along so well, that you may not even think we are siblings (besides the fact that we look identical). I have to owe this change of behavior to my brother, because with my personality, I probably could have argued and fought with him until the end of time. Now I am finally approaching the point I had for writing this article, which is to brag about my little brother.
My brother is the most respectful, polite, and kind-hearted man I know. He is 17 now and possesses the maturity of someone twice his age. He is hard working, motivated and determined in everything he tackles. He is intelligent and always challenging himself. School can prove difficult for him at times, as it can for us all, but he pushes through and produces his best work regardless. His junior year he took a number of AP classes, while playing lacrosse and next year for his senior year he will be taking even more AP classes. He is working 40-plus hours a week right now, while also helping my aunt finish the final touches on her new home.
My brother never complains; he does everything with a good attitude and no issues. He will drop whatever he is doing to help another person. My brother is incredibly thoughtful and does not have one selfish bone in his body. He never has anything negative to say about another person and treats everyone with the utmost respect. He rarely becomes angry and he knows how to handle himself if he does. He is responsible and knows right from wrong. He doesn't need anyone but himself to keep him in check. My brother is respectful towards women and treats every person as his equal. Hard to believe these qualities come from a 17-year-old, isn't it?
Above all, the love my brother shows me is greater than any love I have ever felt. He is protective of me and my feelings and supports all of my endeavors. He puts me before anyone and proves how much he cares for me continuously. He is the one person that I am never irritated with, or need time away from. I am so proud and in awe of the person he is and continues to become. I am honored to be his sister. Nothing warms my heart more than the person that my brother has grown to be. I admire every aspect of him. I can only hope that I find a partner that possesses half of the qualities my brother already has. I thank my lucky stars frequently for being blessed with a brother as unbelievable and unique as mine. I love you so much, Ja, you are my greatest role model.
