No one person on this planet can drive you as crazy or love you completely quite like a sibling, especially a younger sibling. As we grow up, the relationships with our siblings changes and develop. Siblings that were seemingly mortal enemies as kids can grow up to be the best of friends. It’s an interesting, complicated, and beautiful social dynamic. As much of a pain as you might think your younger sibling or siblings might be, the truth is your life wouldn’t be the same without them. Here are 5 ways that a younger sibling is better for you than you may realize.
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Make You Feel Grown Up
Having a younger sibling come to you for insights or advice can instantly make you feel grown up and accomplished. Anytime someone comes to you for your thoughts is a sign of respect. Think about it, you wouldn’t ask someone you didn’t like for advice. So, when your younger sibling comes to you for help, it is because they trust you and respect what you will have to say. Even if they are coming to you to bail them out of a bind, they do so because they know you can handle it… and they MIGHT not tell your parents.
Teammate
If you have a younger sibling, you know there is one rule: “I might pick on them, but no one else ever will.” Siblings always have that kind of relationship with outsiders, but they can also be your childhood confidants when conspiring against parental units. Even kids that fight tooth and nail with each other will team up to get something they mutually want from parents. The same mentality works when you are older, and against the whole world.
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Closer than a Friend
Friends share experiences together, but siblings share a LIFE together. The only bond you will have in your life that is as close as a sibling is a spouse. Because of this, no one understands you quite like a sibling, for good or bad. No one’s opinion matters quite like a sibling. Younger siblings will always look up to you, no matter what the circumstances might be.
Lifelong Partner in Crime
No one will get you in more trouble than a sibling. As the older sibling, you are usually the one that inspires that trouble, and the younger sibling is the fall guy. What’s funny to me is that, as adults, that dynamic changes. It’s the younger sibling convincing the older sibling to do something they would never do otherwise. Maybe it’s just a way to make up for all the years of the older sibling getting the younger into trouble.
Read: 3 Amazing Ways that our Dogs Improve Our Lives (Backed by Science)
Gives you Perspective
All and all, no one gives you a better perspective on your own life quite like a sibling. You came from the same place, and throughout your lives have grown into two different people. You’ve helped them become the people they are, and they have given you the confidence in yourself to inspire them to be better. Nothing in the world is like the relationship between siblings, and for that – I am personally thankful for mine.
