As we’re beginning to be in the midst of the holiday season, I’ve been thinking lately about all of the things that I’m thankful for. Of course I’m thankful for a home, food, water, all of the essentials, but what else am I thankful for? The biggest thing that comes to mind are my siblings. I have two brothers and two sisters and quite honestly, I don’t know what I would do without them. I know that’s a pretty general statement to hear and it’s something that’s said all the time, but I absolutely mean it.

Siblings are your best friends from birth. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any friends at school because you can just come home to your best friends. I was bullied a lot as a kid and I didn’t really have any friends, but I could come home, my brothers would give me a Playstation controller, and I was never lonely for too long. Sure siblings fight, but they would never abandon you like a lot of mean kids at school. Even though three of my siblings are older, they still gladly step up when I need a Stranger Things or a FRIENDS buddy.

Having siblings also means you have a 24/7 support system. Going through a breakup? Stressed about school? Angry at the world? You have someone to talk to. I have an older sister and a younger one and both of them are open ears anytime I need to talk. My 9 year old sister even held me when I cried while watching Inside Out. Brothers will listen to you, but you better be prepared for the responses like “break their nose” and “do I need to beat them up?” anytime someone crosses you, which sometimes you do just want your brothers to kick some butt on your behalf.

If you’re anything like me, you struggle with at least one subject at school. For me, I struggle with math. When you have a sibling, you automatically get to come home to a free tutor. I somehow hit the lucky jackpot by having two brothers that are both geniuses when it comes to math, meaning I had two tutors for free. Honestly, my brothers have the most patient hearts because there would be some nights where I would just be sobbing simply because I didn’t understand my math homework. Sure, they would get frustrated with me, but they never left me to fail. I’m in college now and I know that I could still call up my brothers and they would gladly help me with my homework.

Siblings have this weird bond that you’ll never find with anyone else, and that’s why it’s the coolest thing ever. Your siblings could go from punching you in the face to talking to you about anything (oddly enough this goes for my brothers AND my little sister), and you’ll never have a bond like that with any other friend. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I was an only child; who would I talk to? Your siblings will be some of the coolest people you’ll ever meet, I would never trade mine for anything. I know I don’t say it nearly enough, but I love them so, so much.