What Growing Up With An Athletic Sibling Has Taught Me

Attending countless soccer, baseball, and basketball games has taught me to always have money for a Powerade but to always be ready to laugh. When the game starts, all rules of behavior are thrown out the window.

Yes, playing sports promotes camaraderie but it also promotes the need to win. The need to be better than everyone else spreads from not only the player but also to the people around him or her.

All types of people can be seen at a sports game. There is the overly involved parent willing to kill to get his or her kid some playing time. This is the parent who has enough waters to fill a swimming pool and enough sliced oranges to make a gallon of orange juice.

The next group is my second favorite--the overly supportive parents.

This group is ready to fight any yellow card and yell “Go Tigers!” at any second when the players may be feeling a little down. My personal favorite is the supportive sister ready to throw some punches at any kid who hurts her not-so-little little brother.

You can see that the "little" factor is not present in my brother.

My brother, mi amigo, and his least favorite name, my home slice, is the person I call when I am bored just for him not to answer because why take your phone off vibrate. It is not like your sister goes to college four and a half hours away. He has been the source of too many fights but also not enough late night Nerf gun wars. On more than one occurrence I have been so nervous about my brother’s soccer game and about him not being able to block the penalty kick that I bit off all my nails and had nubby nails for a school dance—third world problems, I know.

Being the non-athletic family member in a family whose schedule revolves around sports can be a tough struggle but it is all about how you view your misfortune. My brother can play two soccer games back-to-back and just be tired while I cannot even ride a bike without falling and breaking my arm. Sure, he gets a varsity letterman jacket but I get a bright pink cast for all of my friends to sign. Tell me who the real winner is.

I did break my arm in middle school so I have had time to learn how to balance but I have fallen down the stairs a few too many times to admit.