"Having two older brothers is a healthy reminder that you are always closer to the bottom than you are to the top." – Andy Roddick
As the youngest of three and a female, growing up with two older brothers has had a huge impact on my life. There are so many different deeds older brothers can teach you (good and bad) and I consider myself to be so lucky. Growing up, I had always dreamed of having a sister and was jealous of all my friends who would always talk about their older or younger sisters and how close they were. My brothers were always so close to one another because they both had so much in common, but they always found a way to include and make me feel important. Even though I was not always interested in the activities they were doing, they always let me be a part of it. I am forever grateful for everything I have learned from them and can carry with me for the rest of my life. Here are just a couple things I have learned from growing up with older brothers.
1. You have to be competitive. Considering absolutely everything is a competition in their eyes, you must one up them all the time.
2. Learn to get a little dirt on yourself; they always want to be doing things outside, rolling around in the mud and the grass, as little kids of course.
3. Rough housing is a must, no time for tea parties or tears. Fight back ten times harder than they do.
4. You will learn to love sports, even if you hate them. You have to go to their baseball and footballs games you eventually have to learn to really love it.
5. It is fun sometimes to not wear a dress and heels (even though I do love it), parading around in their big t-shirts and basketball shorts can be really comfy.
6. Your boyfriends are going to be terrified by them, they will come off as super intimidating towards them at first, only because they don't want to accept that their little sister is growing up.
7. Your best (girl) friends will probably think they are cute, happened with all my best friends but I got over it, they love it.
8. It is like having your own personal body guards at times. You never have to worry about bullies or someone hurting you.
9. They will always have your back, no matter how crazy you drive each other, at the end of the day they taught me family comes first.
10. Everything is always their fault, no matter what. Being the youngest helped out a lot with this considering they always took the fall for everything.
11. They do NOT like when you tell on them to mom and dad, and they will absolutely find a way to get back at you.
12. They do NOT like when you go in their rooms, and you don’t want too. They should have had an enter at risk sign hung on the door, because I regret going in there most of the time.
13. They are smelly, at all times. You learn to live with the fact that they are boys and their clothes and belongings smell.
14. Brothers remind us that you are loved, you don’t need a boy to make you happy, but they always did.
My older brothers test my patience and sanity every single day. When we were younger I thought they were the coolest guys in the world, and I still feel the same way. They work so hard (and play hard) in their everyday lives and I strive to have to positive attitude and strong willed ambition they both have. They always push me to be a better person and help me when sticky or unfortunate situations arise. My childhood definitely would not be the same without them in and I am forever grateful for what they have taught me in life, and that God blessed me with the two older brothers that turned into best friends.
