For the first ten years of my life it was just my two sisters and I. We thought that was enough; three girls are a handful, not to mention everything is a fight, and clean bedrooms are a joke. We never expected to gain not just one more sibling, but two.
At age ten my mother gave birth to my brother Connor. My only other younger sibling is only 17 months younger than I am so I had never experienced a baby in the house. Throughout my mother's pregnancy my sisters and I said if she had a girl we were selling it to the circus or on eBay (totally illegal but hey we were kids). When we discovered it was a boy we were all thrilled. I was beyond excited to have a baby brother.
Just over two years later my mother was pregnant again with another boy. Now having experience with a baby in the house, I knew how much responsibility and how time-consuming babies were. That still wasn't enough to sway my opinion on a second baby in the house. After nine short months my baby brother William was born. At this time, Connor was 2 years old. I felt like we had the best of both worlds; not only did we have a new baby but also had a toddler.
Both of my brothers stole my heart the day we met. When they were born I did not just get another sibling I gained a life long best friend. You see, having siblings who are so much younger than you may seem annoying at times, because yes, there will be things you can't do. And yes, you will probably be expected to pitch in with babysitting. Not to mention there will be a million things they ask you to do that you think are stupid and childish but you'll do it anyway because it will make their day.
To them you are more than just their older sibling, you're their role model. They look up to you, they want to be just like you. They are going to want to do everything with you. There have been many times where I've had friends over for a fire and my brothers have begged to sit with us because they feel "cool" being with the big kids. Your younger siblings will invite you to absolutely everything they do, from tee ball practice and pre-school graduation to elementary school Christmas concerts. Though it may seem small to you it means the world to them when they look into the crowd and you are there. You're their big brother or sister. They are going to introduce you to all of their friends and talk about you constantly, get used to it. Also your friends will more than likely love when they tag along because as much as it may seem annoying they are adorable and you know it.
Also having younger siblings allows you to relive your own childhood. Not going to lie I was at the first showing of "Inside Out" and many other new kid movies. My excuse, well I went with my brothers. Spending hours playing a 3DS, same thing I was playing with my brothers. I know most of the Disney Junior shows theme songs and I could careless what anyone has to say about it. I probably have spent more time watching "Oso", "Mickey Mouse", "Paw Patrol", "Frozen" or "The Good Dinosaur", then I've spent watching my own shows. But that's fine because it made my brothers day. There is nothing they love more than just hanging out with their big sister. I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.
Many of my friends have asked me if I wished my mom stopped after my sister. My answer has never changed, no. My younger brothers were the best gift I have ever received.
Just remember to cherish the time with them while you can. As you grow up they're growing up too. Yes they will always be your annoying younger sibling but they will grow up in what will feel like the blink of an eye. Now my brothers are four and seven years old, and are heading into pre-school and second grade, and I'm heading off to college. It feels like just yesterday I was 10 years old meeting Connor for the first time.
So yes, my siblings are 10 and 13 years younger than me but that only allows me to reconnect with my inner child. It also allows me to watch them grow and become amazing young men.
