I am one of four girls, the second oldest sibling and I wouldn’t trade my family for anything. They make me laugh and forget about the hard parts of growing up. It is okay if they don’t get why I am stressed about college or work, that is not where they are at yet in life and they are not suppose to. I love seeing them grow up and enjoy where they are at, cause most of the time I wish I could be a little more carefree. I have heard my sisters say they wish they were not the youngest siblings because they are always referred to as the “little” ones. So here is why I wouldn’t want it any other way than to have them be my younger sisters.

1. They gave Me My First Job

When I was little I wanted younger siblings so I could take care of someone. Play mom and dress up, ya know? But it wasn’t all cute bows and outfits. My parents taught my older sister and I take care of our younger sisters. They taught us to think of them, to watch out for them, and stick up for them. This went on through elementary school through middle school and into high school. Family was first, it didn’t matter if we were 3 or 5 years a part. My mom always told me to carry my relationship with my sisters carefully and hold it dear, cause they were my family for life. They were the first people I learned to love, defend, and laugh with.

2. They Keep Me Honest

If there is one thing I have learned about kids is that they remember everything you say, and are real good at reminding you even at the worse time. I love that my younger sisters keep me honest, they make me want to be better. I had to learn how to “walk my talk”. When ever I would get mad at one of sisters for something they did, my mom would ask me “now where do you think they got that from?” They answer was 99% of the time me. I wanted to be better because I knew my sisters were watching, and hopefully learning from my mistakes. I want to make them proud, to show them that can do anything cause they are strong enough. It wasn’t fair for me to do one things and expect better from them, I had to lead by action.

3. They Keep Me Young

Whenever I come home from college for break and feel burned out from “adulting”, my youngest sister is always asking me if I know the new dance moves or what some new hip word is. And every time my response is “what in the world is that?” With huge eyes she enlightens me cause she just “can’t believe it”, that I had never heard of it. My question has become, “ya, but its me so does that surprise you?” at which she quickly responds, “not at all”. Whether it is busting a move in the kitchen or making me pose for some Instagram photo that will be “totes cute”, they remind me take a chill pill and laugh. I also get the low-down on all the middle school gossip, who the next Justin Bieber is, and most importantly what some boy said to her one friend that so and so overheard and what not. Its not that I am able to remember everything I am told, but I just love the fact that she want to tell me what is going on. Even if I didn’t know what the dab was till last yea (ya I know thats embarrassing), I love that she still wants to talk to me about everything that matters to her.

4. They Tell the Best Stories

When my second younger sister was in middle school I realized she could tell one impressive story. Everyday after getting home from school my mom would ask the usual questions of how the day was, and not ten minutes later my sister would have my mom and I crying laughing. She held nothing back as she would talk about what a kid or teacher did at school, and honestly I just wanted to know how in the world she got a front row seat to it all. Even if I was there, hearing her perspective on stuff that happened made life laughable.

5. They Make the Best Stories

This may be my favorite thing that I love about being an older sibling, I get to see people do dumb stuff and for once its not me! Like running into the screen door and ripping it. I am not trying to be mean, its just nice when its not you who has to tell Dad you broke the screen, again. It just the little things in everyday life everyone has to learn, that I enjoy getting a front row seat to them figuring out. Like when that one sibling has a habit of getting stuck and managed to get her head stuck in a bucket, twice. Or when my sister was asking if the rice bag was closed as she proceeded to check for herself. She managed to dump the bag all over the counter AND kitchen floor. All my mom could do was hand her the broom and walk away, after laughing of course.

6. They Make Me Sound Cool

When you are in college and realize that one of your biggest accomplishments is that you managed to get yourself in to so much debt, its the little things that make you feel good about where you are at. My youngest sister feels like top dog at school when tells her friends I'm in college and what I am studying and so on. Personally I do not understand why going to school for five years to hopefully get a job that can pay back all the loans under my name can translate me to being cool, but hey I will take what I can get at this point. Or when she tells her friends stories of my stupid moments and I get called the “funny sister” that everyone loves, that can make you feel like you won the lottery after failing an exam.

7. I Love That I Got To See The Grow Up

When you are the older sibling you get see your younger siblings grow, learn, become who they are. I remember when my younger sisters where born and wondering what they would be like when they got older. We have done life together and now get to talk about all the memories of each other that no one else sees. I love seeing them become confident in who they are, learning who they want to be.

If you have never told your younger sibling you love them, make sure to do so. Every once in a while I get reminded that even though I'm growing up my sisters are too, meaning that I don’t want to miss out on their lives. Even when they wish they were the older sister and could do almost whatever they want, I try and remind them that where they are at is a great spot because it is their own story. I am thankful for who they are and the place they have in my heart. Even though they hate it, they will always be little to me and I love it.