My little brother is ten years younger than me, so more often than not I'm the one playing the teacher. I've helped him learn how to read, write and do math. I've helped him figure out how to brush his teeth, comb his hair and get dressed in the mornings. I've helped him figure out a lot of things as I've watched him grow, but it's not until recently that I realized he's taught me just as much in his ten years of life. Maybe he hasn't been able to teach me as much as I've taught him education-wise, but he's taught me much more valuable lessons that have made me appreciate life more since he's been around.
1. You need to learn to laugh at yourself.
As the youngest child, he puts up with the most from all of us. He takes the brunt of our taunts and jokes. Despite how annoying we can be about it, he grins and bears it. Hell, sometimes he even laughs with us and makes fun of himself. He knows not to take things too serious or personal which I think a lot of people forget as they grow up and enter adulthood.
2. Don't try to grow up too fast.
Sometimes I forget what it was like to be in elementary school, middle school and sometimes high school, even though it wasn't too long ago that I was there. When I pick my brother up from school and he's complaining about 'fifth grade drama' and which girls are the most annoying, I can't help but think of how much I miss those issues being the biggest problems in my life. Now I have to worry about college loans, my future career and how I'm going to figure out my whole entire life before I graduate. So many people are in a rush to grow up that they don't cherish the simplicity of being a kid.
3. What it means to take care of someone.
I have other siblings that I've taken care of just as well, but the huge age gap between my brother and I created a different type of sibling relationship. I baby him more than I should and more than he wants me too I'm sure, but that's because when he was born he was like a real-life baby doll for me. I got to play house 24/7. It was the ultimate dream for a fourth grade girl. Even as he gets older, I still look out for him like he's four. I cook for him, help him with homework, get him ready for school, practice, bed, whatever. I'm there with him every step of the way and he's taught me how much it really takes to be that for someone.
4. Appreciate the little things.
My brother gets excited about the most random things. He gets excited if we take him to the dog store and we let him hold the dog or if I take him to the park to play soccer for 10 minutes before I get too tired of running. I think as we get older, we stop finding that kind of joy and excitement in simple things like that. He reminds me to appreciate things that I wouldn't think to on my own.
5. Cherish every moment.
Sometimes, as life gets more complicated, we get too wrapped up in the things that cause us stress and bring us down. It's a lot harder to enjoy the little things when you've got an entire future to plan, but I'm thankful for my brother for reminding me that it's something I have to do. When we're just hanging out in my room because he doesn't want to go all the way upstairs to his room by himself and we're talking about the most random topics, I realize how much those little moments mean to me. Life is not infinite and there are more important things than having every step of it planned out. It's more important to fully enjoy the times you have with your family, friends and loved ones.
So as much as I've been able to teach him - about school, how to match his shirt and pants (we're still working on it), how to read and write - he's taught me twice as much and it's been twice as valuable. Sometimes you just need to look at your younger siblings and thank them for reminding you what it's like to be a kid and how to enjoy every single thing you possibly can. Too many people forget that, but it's something we all have to do before life gets too serious.
