Just because I am walking around with a three year old does not mean it's my child. Just because I'm pushing him in a stroller, feeding him snacks, and treating him like my own does not mean he's my kid. Just because I take him to the movies, the park, and buy him things at the store does not make him mine, it just makes a great older sibling.

Being eighteen and walking around with a three year old shouldn't come with judgement, stares, and sympathy comments. It is always assumed that he is my child, and never questioned as if he is my brother. The social norm is teen pregnancy, not sibling, which is the most surprising, yet in the same way unsurprising, thing.

I personally think having this age difference creates a special bond that many will not ever experience. It is like having a best friend around 24/7 that you can help grow into a person. I can promise there is no better feeling than taking your little brother out for movies and ice cream, and hear him come home to talk about the great day he had with "sissy." Because you're still a "sissy" to somebody. Someone still looks for you to do the simple things in life. Having such a drastic age difference can be hard to get used to, but in the end it has been one of the best experiences I have gotten to be a part of. Not only are some of the perks great, like being able to park in the first spot at giant, or getting discounts on things just because "he is so cute", but having that young of a sibling can help bring you back to a simpler time. It can help de-stress you and remind you that not everything has to be so hard. Hearing him walk in upset because he can not open his juice box will never not be funny. By simply helping to open that juice box, you solved all the problems in the world. If you are lucky enough to be in this position, embrace it because being fifteen years apart is okay. It is like becoming an older sibling super hero.