I remember how we used to pretend we were mermaids in the pool together or how we would fight over whose Barbies got to live in the dollhouse. We would stay up late at night to build forts out of blankets on our bunkbeds, and then I would read stories to you as we curled up under our fortress. As cliche as this sounds, I feel like these were things that happened just yesterday. Now you’re going to prom, getting your driver’s license, and as much as it pains me to say this, you have a boyfriend. As your older sister, this freaks me out. I want to tell you “no.” I want to tell you to break up with him and go back to cuddling with your blankie. I want you to stay my baby sister forever. I know you have to experience these life events but as your older sister, it’s hard to face the reality that you really are growing up. He is your first boyfriend and as you claim, your first love. This will be an exciting, confusing and even painful time for you. This boy might seem like the world to you right now, but I want you to always remember a few things from older sister, to younger sister.

Don’t ditch your friends

This is the golden rule. As much as you probably don’t want to believe it when it comes to your first love, boys come and go. Friends are forever. No matter how great spending time with your boy can be, you should never get so consumed with him that you are neglecting your friends. First of all, that isn’t a very healthy relationship if you can’t be apart from each other. Second of all, you might damage your friendships for good if you choose him over them. If you and your boyfriend break up, which is highly likely, you might not have any dependable friends left to help make it better.

Believe in yourself

You want your boyfriend to think you’re beautiful, smart and funny. He wouldn’t be a very good or worthy boyfriend if he didn’t believe those things! What’s more important however, is that you think those things about yourself without a boy to validate them. You need to remember that you are so amazing and special in every way! You deserve all the love in the world but most importantly, love from yourself!

Don’t grow up too fast

I cannot stress this enough. You are only 15 once and you will have the rest of your life to do adult things when you get there. One day you will wake up and realize that you can never be a kid again. Yes, you’ll have the independence of an adult but you’ll also have a lot of adult responsibilities. This is such a special time in your life where you do have a little more freedom but you are also still a kid in high school. Please don’t let these years go to waste by being too much in a hurry to end them. Have fun! Be silly! Cherish these moments.

I am always here for you

You may have your heart broken and I don’t say this to scare you. Chances are you aren’t going to meet your Prince Charming at 15. You will probably have your heart broken more than once, but we will face that together. No matter what happens, no matter what time of night, no matter what I may be going through, I will always be here for you. It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to ask questions or for advice. It’s OK to vent about boys or tell me stories. As your sister, I want you be safe and I want you to be loved. As long as I’m alive, you will never be alone.