Right now, you’re seven and I’m twenty. There’s so many years in between us, but I hope you know that I’m here for you and always will be.

When I think of you, I know that most of your memories of me will be of driving you around, telling you no, or just being the second mom you didn’t ask for, but I want you to know that even though we didn’t share a childhood, that doesn’t mean I’m any less your sister.

With that being said, I want you to know that you can come to me whenever. If you’re in trouble and don’t want to tell mom and dad or you just need someone to talk to that isn’t one of your friends, you can come to me. I may have been bossy and I more than likely will be for the rest of your life, but I still am your sister first and your second mom second.

Remember that I do love you. With you being so much younger than me, you frustrate me. The constant need to be entertained and the constant talking is something that I know you do because you’re little, but it still gets under my skin. I may not understand you right now or be on the same level as you, but I love you all day every day no matter how mad you make me.

Like I said, I’ll be bossy forever. With you being so young and me watching you grow up, I’m going to be bossy whether you like it or not. I see you as my own. I have no problem telling you how it is or telling you what to do. I’m not doing it because I can (well, sometimes yes), I’m doing it because I care about the person you become and I know that person is going to be far better than I’ll ever be.

You may be the boy, but I’ll protect you like no other. You may be the tough boy you think you are, but you’re the baby to me. If anyone were to ever hurt your feelings or break your heart you know that I’ll be the first one to ask who and where and I’m gone.

Stay young forever, please. Having you in the house makes me feel younger. You make the holidays more fun and the family trips more enjoyable. I don’t ever want you to grow out of the snugs before bed or the sleepy crawl under the blanket next to me in the morning. Please don’t grow up.

You make me mad, you frustrate me, and you make long car rides sometimes unbearable, but I wouldn’t change you being the baby for anything.

Stay young forever, please.