There are so many things to thank my brothers for over the years. Whether it's watching YouTube videos for hours or rushing out of the house at 10:30 p.m. on a Tuesday to get ice cream shop before it closes, they are always there for me.
They've taught me to live life without a care. Granted, all three of them are younger and don't have as many worries as I do right now, it's always refreshing to view life the way they do.
They always keep me up-to-date with the latest high schoo lingo, which is always entertaining to learn. Not to mention, I also have them to thank for sharing with me their favorite music which usually ends up becoming some of my favorites as well.
They've also taught me the importance of family time. Every day I'm away at school I miss hanging out with them and laughing nonstop. I wish I could go back and spend as much time with them as possible before I left for college.
I learned how to care for others and to have empathy for people through them. I am pretty protective of them, so it's hard to see them grow up so fast knowing I can't care for them and protect them forever.
It's upsetting to know that they are going to face some hard times in the future, as all teens do, but the best part about being close with them is being able to be there for them if they need to talk or ask about something.
Since we are all so close in age, it was hard for my parents to take care of four kids all the time. Because of this, I like to think I had a part in helping them grow into the people they are today.
Even though we get on each other's nerves at times, the best part about it is when I can get them to laugh even after a fight when they're still "mad" at me for picking on them.
My brothers are some of the best friends I've ever had. I know that no matter what happens, they will always be there for me when I need a good laugh or a friend to hang out with.
Watching them grow up, start to date and go to high school dances is hard to accept, but it's so exciting to know that they are going to have amazing lives because of the wonderful young men that they have come to be today.
They still have so much to learn about the world and I hope that I can have a hand in teaching them and help navigate them throughout it all.
You don't know what you got until it's gone, and that statement has never been more true when I look back on all the unforgetable memories we created when we were younger. I will always be grateful for what my brothers have taught me and I hope they are able to say the same.
