To My "Little Sister"

Like many of you, I'm sure, I was not blessed with a little sister. I have 3 other siblings, an older sister, but not a younger one. Needless to say, I'm very jealous of all of you out there with little sisters. Three years ago, I met a little girl named Margo and she quickly became my version of a little sister. She even has my wedding planned out at seventeen years old, not even joking. So to Margo, thank you for being the little sister that I never had. I hope some of you have had these same experiences with a "little sister" of your own.

They Teach You More Than You Teach Them:

Though they are younger than you are, they can teach you more about life than you ever thought. Through the years, I have found myself learning more from a 7-8 year old than I ever have from a teacher or a book. For example, did you know that purple lettuce is absolutely disgusting and tastes completely different than green lettuce? All joking aside, kids have a sort of refreshing innocence that gets lost on us as we grow. They remind you of what is really important in life, and allow you to see the world from a completely different perspective. You learn to enjoy life a little more, if anything.

They Give The Best Advice:

The problems that we have seem so menial to a young child. Often times, they know the solutions to our problems before we do. For example, a few months ago I had mentioned that I was nervous about a big test. Margo's reply: "Take a bath and drink some chocolate milk. (But don't take a shower because those are stressful.)" Ever since then, before a big test, I take a bath and drink a glass of chocolate milk and it works like a charm. Many times we are trying to look so far ahead and plan for every possible scenario, but kids see the parts of a whole, and better understand how to tackle each complex step of a problem. Who knew? A bath and a cup of chocolate milk.

They Leave A Lasting Impression:

A "little sister" truly will be your best friend forever, no matter how old they get, or how big of an age gap there is. It is a privilege to get to watch her grow up right before my eyes, knowing she will change the world some day. As I move onto college, it saddens me to leave her behind. She has even asked if she can move with me, which of course I would love! However, I hope she knows the profound impact that she has had on my life at such a young age. What I've learned I will carry with me forever. I hope I've even taught her a thing or two along the way. Hug your little sisters tight as much as you can for as long as you can. Remember to thank them often for all of the things they don't know they are doing. They truly are incredible, and make life all the more special.

To Margo, thank you...