With a grandmother who has eight brothers and sisters that have more than 80 kids, grandkids and great-grandkids total, my family is considered huge.

If you have a big family like mine, and maybe even if you don’t, you know there are cousins who exist that you kind of know their name, and then there are cousins whom you hang out with all the time. Over time, the cousins you are close with can become some of your best friends.

Growing up, I was the youngest cousin for a while in our immediate family. I always felt like the little kid that got left out. However, the older we got, the closer I became to my cousins, and especially recently.

Being close to my cousins is one of the best things that’s happened to me. They’re built-in friends who truly love you because you are family.

Here are five reasons why cousins make the best friends:

1. They’re always down to hang out.

When I was younger, my older cousins seemed so much older and more mature than me. Now that we’re all older, it’s a lot more fun to hang out. Since we're closer in age, we can shop, eat and basically do everything together.

2. They can relate to the drama that circulates throughout the family.

You don’t have to explain to them who your crazy distant family member is, because they already know them. And, chances are, they know more info about them than you do. They also know your parents like they do their own and vise versa.

3. They teach you new stuff:

Since we were little, they have always been there to tell me things about life. Whether it be how to wear makeup, advice about boys or how to make my outfits match, they were always there. I still text my cousin about what to wear or if my outfit looks OK, and I know they will always tell me the truth.

4. They’ve been there though it all.

Cousins remember the good, the bad, the ugly and even the embarrassing. They remember all the crazy things that have happened in your life because they were there and probably remember it a bit more than you. They know everything and aren't afraid to bring stories up, especially the embarrassing ones.

5. They give the best advice.

My cousins have known me my whole life. They remember my awkward stage, my first boyfriend and the day I graduated high school. They know so much about me and my life. I know I can go to my cousins with anything. Plus, they always know when I need serious advice and when they can joke around with me about life decisions.

In the end, it’s such a blessing to be so close to my older cousins and to have a friend in them. They have taught me a lot, they support any decision I make and they are to there to listen and help me when I mess up. Plus, they make every family reunion, vacation and Christmas that much better.