Growing up, I was always surrounded by cousins. Family events were never boring, because I always had someone to play dolls with, go for a swim with, or sneak away to watch a movie with. As we got older, my cousins became the people I turned to for everything, the people I missed more than anything, and people I knew I could always count on. Cousins are special people, and I feel so grateful to have so many in my life.

Here are ten reasons why cousins truly make the best friends.

1.They're some of your first friends.

Other than siblings, your cousins are the first people you learn to interact with. They're the ones who you learn how to share and play nice with. Growing up together, you quickly become protective of one another and are ready to throw a punch (metaphorically, of course) whenever you have to back your cousin up. Even though you may fight sometimes and the phrase "You're not my cousin anymore!!!!", gets thrown around, you learn how to put your differences aside and sweep those little things under the rug.

2. You're never bored when you're together.

My cousins and I always joke that we would have fun with one another even in a completely empty room, but it's the truth. There are always old inside jokes to reminisce over, or potty jokes to laugh at. You find entertainment in one another, and don't stop laughing while you're together. Things like banging pots on New Year's Eve may not seem like fun, but with your cousins it's the most entertaining thing you've ever done.

3. They teach you things no one else would.

Your cousins are the people who are there to teach you all of the important things in life. They teach you what is cool, and what is not, and they're the ones who tell you that it's normal for your pee to smell after you eat asparagus. You tend to pick up on social norms around them, and model yourself after your older cousins because you think they're the coolest people in the world. They teach you how to wear makeup for the first time, how to put out a candle with your fingers, and maybe even how to drive a boat. You can always count on a cousin to teach you something new.

4. Someone is always down to get into some trouble or go on an adventure.

Cousins make every adventure in life much more memorable. Going for a drive can turn into the best hour of your life full of singing to country music and laughs galore. Cousins are the ones who bring out the adventurous side in you, and while your ideas may not always be bright, you always come out of them with a new story to tell. And although you may not agree at first with stealing street signs, taking a midnight walk, bridge jumping, or running over canoes with motor boats, there is always a cousin to talk you into it. And hey, if you get in trouble, you ALL get in trouble, so you can deal with being grounded together.

5. They give the best advice.

Whether right down the road, or a few hundred miles away, you can always turn to your cousins for good, solid advice. They're the ones who will always answer the phone when you really need someone. Your cousins listen to you without judgement before jumping in with their own opinions. They genuinely care about you, and will do whatever they can to help you out, whether it's on the phone, over FaceTIme, or in person. They lift you up even when you're feeling the lowest of lows, and they teach you never to give up on yourself.

6. And they're never afraid to tell you the truth.

And with that, your cousins will tell it like it is. They aren't afraid to tell you the truth and be honest because they know it is the best way to help in the long run. They have your best interests at heart and they'll be brutally honest even if it stings a little at first. They're advice is informed, they talk to you out of experience and usually have some pretty good ideas of how to handle things.

7. You have wonderful memories dating all the way back to the diaper days.

There's no being embarrassed around your cousins because they've been there through it all. You've taken bubble baths together, gone to each other's band concerts, and seen each other have complete temper tantrums. One of the best cousin pastimes is sitting around watching the old videos your Uncle recorded at every family gathering since you were born. Although it might be embarrassing that you peed on camera, fell out of a kayak, or couldn't jump on the trampoline, who better to sit around and laugh with than the cousins who were right there with you.

8. They give you something to look forward to at every family gathering.

Family gatherings can be intimidating, we can all admit that. Sitting around answering questions about your relationship status, or the future can be anxiety producing and stressful, but knowing your cousins will be there almost immediately helps you relax a little. The kid's table is something you look forward to, and sitting around eating home-cooked traditional food with some of your favorite people is one of your favorite pastimes. And who else would you want to sneak downstairs to eat leftovers at 1 AM with?

9. Age Doesn't Matter.

In fact, it's pretty lucky to have a wide age range among cousins. Your oldest cousins are the ones you turn to when debating moving to a new city, or making big life decisions, but your little cousins are always there when you want to laugh and watch goofy movies, or play a game of tag. The love is real with all of your cousins, no matter what the age difference is, at the end of the day you're all there for one another.

10. Family is forever.

Your cousins are your people. In a world that is always changing, your cousins are one of the only things that stay constant. Your cousins are the ones you can openly talk about the future and dream with. You can talk about traveling the world together, living together in your twenties, all of the weddings you'll go to, and raising your kids side by side. They're the ones who are always there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on, or the ones who will hold your hand on a scary roller coaster. They're your number 1 fans and your best friends until the end. You celebrate the same births, and mourn the same deaths and get through it all side by side. You spend your favorite days of your childhood together, on your family vacation by the lake eating ice cream, or on Christmas morning by the tree. Your cousins have you loved you through every stage of your life, through Crocs, too much eyeliner, and your chubby cheeks, and they will keep on loving you through the rest of them. Cousins are truly special people, and I can't wait to grow old with mine. Thank you for forever being the bubble gum to my ice cream, and the whipped cream to my apple pie, I love you all more than anything and you are my favorite humans in the whole world.