Growing up with siblings can be rough, especially if you are the middle child, but what can be truly rough is growing up with a house full of boys. Now, it wasn't all bad but every now and again growing up I wished to the good lord all mighty I was an only child. However, over time our relationships evolved from the annoying sibling into this remarkable friendship.
My older brother, Brandon, is a little over four years older than me and he got to experience everything first, like first sleepover, sporting event, and of course first to get a car, which only taught me what not to do. While we were growing up, he and I were thick as thieves. He would help organize my stuffed animals, watched the god awful show Teletubbies and even held my hand while crossing the street. Now while that eventually wore off as we became older and began hanging in different crowds and I, admittedly became sassy and he well became sassy without an 's' or a 'y,' but he was always there for me whenever I needed him the most.
Growing up with an older brother instead of a sister forces you into the tom-boy world. Playing tackle/touch football, soccer, basketball etc. Not only did I have an older brother but I was one of the only girls in the neighborhood who didn't mind the dirt.
I remember one summer while on break all the kids in the neighborhood was playing touch football due to the fact that a few of us had broken bones, and my brother didn't want his little sister on his team, for whatever reason. So we were on rival teams and my quarterback threw the ball to me and one of my brothers teammate tackled me to the ground. And he tackled me hard! trust me when I tell you there is a reason they wear padding. My brother, being the night and shinning armor tackled that guy right back, his own teammate! And told him not to touch me again. That is when I knew that even though we had our own friends, he would always have my back.
By the time our little brother came around, we were used to rough housing, fighting, bickering, and just annoying the crap out of our parents, but when Nicholas came around Brandon was already 16 and I was 13 we new our time for that had to stop. Our world changed when he came. Brandon had another sibling to protect and I was now an older sister. Which is a job I took seriously, I still do after almost 8 years.
Due to the age difference Nicholas is growing up as a part-time only child. He doesn't get to experience having a sibling to mess around with or get into mischief with. As Brandon and I are adults and out living our own lives, he won't experience the same things as we did. But every time all three of us are together, there is no doubt we are related.
Growing up with brothers, can be rough and tiresome but in the long run I know for a fact that my brothers will always be in my life and will always have my back. And I will always be there for them as well. I am truly blessed for the siblings I have, even if they can be annoying at times.
