Growing up I was always told, "Just wait. You'll get along when you both get older." And sometimes it felt as if time couldn't go fast enough. I always wished and hoped that we would get to the point where we could be in a room longer than 5 minutes without getting into a fight,
Before I break down what it was actually like growing up with a brother, I should say a few things first. My brother would literally do anything for me. He has my back 100% and in return will support him forever as well. Just because we didn't always get along and liked to pick on each other doesn't negate the special bond we have.
So, while he has my back, I also have to watch my back. When it comes to being around my brother, I tend to be the butt of his jokes. There is a constant war of who can pull off the best prank or who can get on each others nerves faster. It's just the way it is. I remember I used to set up a camera and try to catch him in the act of misbehaving and some how he would always get away with things.
One thing I can say is that I'm probably stronger than a lot of women my age. When you are constantly getting shoulder checked down the hallway or getting put into a headlock during dinner, you tend to not be affected by most other things you might experience. And a tip for you younger sisters: NEVER FIGHT BACK. This truly only makes it worse; trust me you can get your revenge in other ways.
And our poor mom. The million phone calls she would get throughout the days because we were fighting about some silly disagreement. The most common one for us was the TV remote. It was a constant battle of who got to pick the show that would end in some ruthless battles.
Don't get me wrong, not all of it was physical and negative. There are some positives to having a big brother. The first one that comes to mind is stealing his clothes. I love a good over-sized shirt and his closet happens to have a lot of them for me! Also, having a big brother means you tend to be around him and his friends. This was the highlight of me and my friends weekends. I have great memories of my friends and I spying through windows watching the boys. Those were our first crushes, and we embarrassed ourselves in front of them every time.
As the little sister, I can't help but laugh every time someone says that he's "so nice" or "so cute." I've seen all sides of him, especially the nasty, mean, and pain-in-my-butt sides. It's crazy to think that someone can say such nice things.
When it comes down to it though, my big brother is my partner-in-crime. He may bring out the worst side of me, but he will always stand up for me when I need him. There's not much else I can ask for. Because of him, I'm mentally and physically strong, and will never give up in a fight.
