When I was younger I always complained about not having a sister.

As I grew older I realized how lucky I was to grow up with the two brothers that I did . The things they have taught me over the years amounts to more than a sister would have for me. They may not always be perfect, but I love them.

Here are 11 perks of having brothers while growing up:

1. You learn how to be tough

Having brothers to play with when you are younger is what makes you a tough girl. Every once in awhile you may convince him to play barbies with you, but more than likely you are either wrestling with him or playing some other physical game. Experiences like these are what taught me to stand up for myself and fight back when I needed to.

2. Introduced to sports early on

Without my two younger brothers I would have only known about dance until probably middle school. I never played any sports in elementary school. When my brother picked up soccer, it was the first sporting event I had to go to. After a few years I was aware of the fundamentals of football, soccer, basketball, and baseball. Although I still don't know quite a few things about football, they still help me learn.

3. Being the only girl means more attention

When you are the only girl, mom gets to spoil you with clothes, dance lessons, hair accessories, etc. I loved having all this attention from my mom when I was younger. It was fun to always get to have the princess parties of the family. Although my dad would probably never admit it, I feel I had more privileges since I was his only daughter as well compared to my brothers.

4. Get to do all of the shopping for them

I love to pick out my brother's clothes at the mall and get to pick out stylish outfits. Although my brothers normally wear Nike shorts and a t-shirt, I promise their closets are trendy with "church clothes." Also, I always get to pick out mom and dad's Christmas presents for them which means more shopping for me, yay!

5. Know how to get along with guys

Knowing how to associate with boys is easy when you grew up with two of them. I have more guy friends than girl friends since boys are so much easier to get along with. Girls can be extremely complicated, and I am very specific about my choice when girl friends. I know I possess this trait thanks to my brothers.

6. Go to their sporting events

To me, there is nothing better than going to support my brother at a sporting event of his. I love to go to the game and cheer him and his team on. Girlfriends may think they are bigger fans than me, but my brothers will always know I've been there since day one. Watching my brother and his teams grow and get better each year is so fun to watch!

7. They can help with heavy objects

When I moved to my college dorm room, my brothers helped carry most of my stuff. Granted, so did my boyfriend and dad, but the more the merrier. I was happy to just organize things in the room and not have to deal with the dirty work. No matter what object it is that I need help with, I know I will have a brother nearby to carry it for me.

8. No petty fights over clothes, makeup, etc...

I hear my friends complain about how their sister stole her expensive shirt or how she keeps using her new eyeshadow palette. For me, I have never had this problem at my house. My brothers have no interest in my clothes or makeup, so it has always been all mine! We only argue about relevant things like who has to clear the table after a meal.

9. They look to you when it comes to girls

Being the only trendy girl role model in their lives is why they look up to you when it comes to choosing a girlfriend. I was a member of the dance team all through high school, and my brother just so happened to start dating one of the girls on my team. I was ecstatic considering he chose someone who had similar interests as me.

10. You know bits and pieces about current sport events

Having brothers means listening to sport talk most of the time. Usually my brothers will tell my dad how their teams are doing and tell him about exciting things hat happened during the game. The perk of this is that when you need to spark a conversation with any male on the planet, you can bring up what you heard at the dinner table.

11. They are always there to support you

Brothers are loyal and will always be there for you. No matter if you have a crappy relationship, get into a fender bender, or if you just a bad day your brothers will be there to hear about it. They will also be at every event you are a part of with a supportive smile. Although they may annoy the hell out of you on a regular basis, this is sometimes just how they show their love for you.