It all started when my parents decided they needed a sixth kid…..

On March 7, 2015, at 5:17 PM, my baby brother, Aryan, was born. I was there sitting outside waiting for my father to come out and tell me the great news. He came home a month later and I became a second mother. My mother had told me when she was in the hospital, “You know, since you’re my oldest daughter, you are gonna be his second mom. If I’m not around, it is your responsibility to take care of him.” I did not take care of my other siblings like I took and still do take care of my baby brother because I was young. I could barely take care of myself (to tell you the truth, still can’t right now!).

When Aryan came home, my mom had assigned me to look after him for the majority of the day until I fell asleep. I would pick him up, give him his bottle, and change his diaper. I am not complaining because it was fun to look after him and not have anything else to do. I would take him outside as well when it got warm out. I would dress him up, put his little shoes and lay him down in the stroller and go out. A lot of people had approached me and complimented him on his big blue eyes. I would often get mistaken for being his mother and would have to correct them saying he is my little brother. This lady once approached me asking where the daddy was and if he got his daddy’s eyes. I told her that we shared the same dad and waited for her to catch on, which took a minute or two. This is one of the disadvantages of being a “second mother”.

But, the advantage to having such a big year difference between my brother and I is that I get to take him out and buy him toys and clothes. Whenever I am out by myself, I end up buying him a sippy cup or socks, something small and usable. Sometimes I got too far and end up getting scolded by my mom but I love my baby brother and want to shower him with love the way I see it. One time, I went into Marshalls and got him those biting things, I forget what they are called, around the time his teeth started growing in. I got him all sorts, ranging from soft to hard and my mom told me that I was a becoming a mom myself, which made me laugh. I never thought of kids or raising kids but I guess I was and still kind of am raising my brother. As much as I love raising my brother, children are so not in my future. He, maybe my responsibility but at I don’t have to be responsible for him 24/7, like an actual mother has to be. I salute all the moms who raise their children and nurture them through the good and difficult times.

I don’t even know if “second mom” is an actual thing or my mom just made it up but I do love being one sometimes and it can get hard too but not as hard as my mom has it. Since, she was the oldest in her family, she had the same responsibility as I know have it. But, shout out to my mom and baby brother for being amazing people and grateful to have them in my life.