1. You learn many self-defense strategies.
My brothers showed no mercy when it came to play fighting. They would beat me up as if I was one of them. I learned that biting, pinching, and hair pulling are my best bets in physical altercations.
2. You are forced to learn to love the sport that they are into.
Personally, I lived at the baseball field constantly. Yeah, it did suck sometimes sitting in 105-degree heat all day for tournaments, but I learned to love watching baseball.
3. They have your back.
Whether it be mean girls or a bad breakup, they are always on your side. "Who do I need to fight today?"
4. You know exactly how to push each other's buttons.
You know if you threaten to turn off the play station while he's playing it, that your little brother will lose it. And he knows that if he takes your phone and runs with it that you will chase him around screaming "give it back" until you're crying and he's laughing.
5. You can steal their shirts and hoodies.
I had access to a plethora of baseball and football shirts. They were big on me and super comfy, and as an added bonus it really ticked my brother off when I'd come out of my room wearing one for school that day.
6. You learn patience.
When you can survive a 12-hour car ride with your little brothers on either side of you trying to make you mad for their own entertainment without reacting a single time, you can truly survive any frustrating situation.
7. It's weird when you live on your own and your apartment is actually quiet.
The bickering and antics that used to annoy me to no end now make me smile when I go home to visit family.
8. You end up being very competitive.
If you ain't first, you're last.
9. You get mad when other people mess with your brothers.
I am the only one allowed to be mean to them. The second someone else is, they better be ready to catch these hands.
10. The constant bickering and fighting will end when you get a little older, and they'll actually want to hang out with you.
When I moved off to college, I was sure that my brothers wouldn't even miss me and would be glad I was gone. But after a day of being gone, I got my first FaceTime call from them telling me to come home and that they missed me. Yes, I cried. A lot.
When I was younger, I always wanted a sister. There were definitely times that I would have traded my brothers for a sack of potatoes (kidding). But now, I wouldn't trade them for the world. I don't know what I would do without them. Growing up with brothers really has shaped me into who I am today.