Growing up, my younger brother definitely added entertainment and excitement to my life. We laughed, we cried, and every now and then we fought. But, throughout our childhood up and even now, he has always been my best friend. It was the two of us against the world, and no matter how crazy he drove me, there's nobody I'd rather go through life with.

When I was fourteen, another brother was added to the family, and I reveled in my (rightful) place as both the oldest and the only girl. My brothers are my best friends, and being the only sister is both entertaining and challenging. It's also one of the coolest parts about life.

Here's a few reasons why siblings are built-in BFF's:

You can teach them and learn from them.

Despite claiming to be the wisest, there were times that my brothers taught me life lessons that I wouldn't have learned from anyone else. Whether it was teaching me patience (oh the trials), the ins and outs of sports, or how to have "guy conversations", my brothers never failed to remind me that being the oldest doesn't always mean having all the answers.

You can laugh at them, but also laugh with them.

If anyone hangs out at my house, they'll learn quickly that my brothers are the go-to subjects of my jokes. Siblings are the easiest (and funniest) people to pick on because after years of living with them, there's endless subject material to choose from. Pushing buttons, sarcastic remarks, and repeated embarrassing stories make for endless joke opportunities. On the other hand, siblings are the best people to laugh with, and you're guaranteed to have inside jokes for life.

Siblings are the best people to fight with, but also the best people to fight for and have fight for you.

I'm part of one of those rare families where siblings seldom fight, but on the occasions we do, man is it rough. Fighting with siblings is inevitable, but when it comes down to it, siblings are the best people to fight for (and vice versa). I remember times that my brother would pace in anger when a guy was rude to me, and every time my parents discipline my brothers I feel the need to stand up on their behalf. There will never be a day that I wouldn't fight for my brothers, and I know they feel the same about me.

Goofing off together will never end.

I remember making highly embarrassing videos with my middle brother on New Year's Eve, dancing around my room in pajamas and pretending to perform on TV. I hope those videos never end up online, but some of the best memories we have are filled with goofy moments like that. We're our weirdest selves around each other, and while there's no telling what part of our brain those ideas came from, we always have fun being dumb together.

Siblings understand your parents better than anyone else.

I can tell my friends a funny story about my parents and they'll laugh, but nobody will laugh as much as my brothers will. Siblings know your parents just as well as you do, and they know the family dynamic better than anyone. They know the perfect time to ask for permission, they know when to keep their opinions to themselves at dinner, and they can honestly answer when you ask, "What do you think Mom/Dad will say?"

They are always honest with you.

When making decisions, there are times when all I need is the opinion of a sibling. Whether that decision is a serious topic or something as light as what to wear the next day, I know my brothers will give me honest advice. It might not always be what I want to hear, but I know they have my best interest at heart.

Siblings are built-in best friends and constant companions.

While I enjoy my alone time, it's nice having siblings because I rarely feel alone. Whether it's them playing video games while I read on the couch or our constant duets in the car, just having them around makes life better. My youngest brother likes to climb into bed with me when I'm home from school, and I remember my middle brother doing the same thing when we were little. We share each other's company even while doing separate things.

Whether your siblings are your best friends or they drive you crazy, you'll never get rid of them, so you might as well embrace it. There are many things I want to be, but an only child isn't one of them.