Growing up with older siblings can be enjoyable at times, and at other times make you wish you were an only child. But growing up with older brothers is whole other experience; one that truly has no words to describe. Here are a few good, and somewhat bad, things my older brothers have taught me through the years.

1. The key to having a killer arm.

And by killer arm I mean how to deliver a mean slap, as in one that leaves a mark for hours.

2. How to stick up for myself.

There is no one in your life that will pick on you as much as your older brothers, so the younger you learn to stick up for yourself, the sooner you will be better off for whatever people life throws at you.

3. How to use my vocal chords to the max.

Having to yell for mom and dad for years to get my brothers in trouble has paid off in the way that I never have to worry about losing my voice due to my vocal chords of steal.

4. That sometimes you are not going to get your way, no matter how hard you cry.

These days I don’t cry as much, but I am constantly reminded that you are not always going to get your way in life.

5. How to fight dirty.

One time my brother’s got in trouble for using straws for spitballs so I taped a straw under the dinner table and framed them for it.

6. That if you believe in yourself, it is possible to eat as much as you please.

I can honestly say that I would not have the same eating habits as I do if I didn’t grow up with older brothers.

7. If dad says no, ask mom.

This one works like a charm no matter how old you are.

8. A bruise or cut isn’t the end of the world.

There’s no reason to cry over it. Rub some dirt in it and get back up, it will heal at some point.

9. That everyone has their turn in life.

When I was younger I never understood why I couldn’t hang out wit my older brother’s and their friends, or why I couldn’t do everything they did. This was a simple way to teach me that you are going to learn and grow and have your turn at all experiences in life.

10. What it’s like to have someone’s back, and for them to have yours.

At the end of the day, there is truly no one that will stick up for you like your siblings do.

At the end of the day I wouldn’t trade growing up with older brothers for the world, even though when I was younger I imagine having a million more toys and a bigger room if I didn’t have older siblings. So here’s a special shout out to those two pain in the butts who taught me a few life lessons and gave me a thicker skin.