My brother just entered his freshman year of high school this fall. Which is weird because my baby brother is growing up. I’m a senior in college so that puts a good seven years between us. As I’ve been away at school, I've experienced a few moments when I realize exactly how much not seeing him everyday makes a difference.

1. That moment when he answers the phone

In this super deep voice he’s like “Hello?” and I’m like “Who is this?” simply because I don’t recognize his voice anymore. High school is definitely a period of time where girls and boys grow up and go through puberty so I shouldn’t really be surprised that his voice is maturing but it still is weird when I call home and literally do not recognize his voice.

2. I find myself asking members of the community about him

A few weeks ago my friend and I were Face Timing with her mom back home and her mom was hanging out with her friend and her friend was talking about the boys' soccer team. So, of course, I’m like, “Oh did my brother play?” “How did he do?” “Did he score?” Like I’m his mom or something. I don’t really have any other way to know everything that is going on in his life unless I ask, right…?

3. When I realize he’s growing up too fast

The other night I was talking with him on the phone and he asks, “So how’s college? Partying hard?” and I was like, “EXCUSE ME WHAT” because he’s way too young to know about partying.

4. When I'm trying to find out if he has a girlfriend

My mom and I are constantly trying to edge our way into his love life and he’s never about it. I’ll ask him if he has a crush and he’ll say yes but when I guess 500,000,000 names he says no to every single one of them.

5. When I finally see him again and he’s way taller than I remember

I swear, every time I see my brother after a few months have gone by, he always looks like he has grown 10 inches.

As much as I may hate to admit it, I actually miss my little brother during the school year. Even though he knows how to annoy me, he’s still a pretty cool kid.