The birth of a family member is an unforgettable experience, especially if you end up sharing a room with them, or more importantly, your X-box. When a young child finds they will not be the only child for long, they typically become excited to have a new friend just for them, their own partner in crime. The younger child is brought into the world with love lined up not only from his or her parents but also their new sibling.

Growing up the youngest is like living in the era after the guinea pig; already knowing what worked and what didn’t. I was not the first to enter the ring, so I knew to duck low if I saw an arm going back. Big brothers and sisters are perfect for passing down information they wish they had known at your age. From things as simple as pick the cookie cutter from the box on the left, not right, or as complicated as take Calc BC, and not AB, your older sibling has been there and knows what is best, especially for you.

Aside from their aid which may become nearly annoying as it is valuable, their knowledge about you is limitless. Having witnessed your life with a memory better than your own at times, odds are they will know what to order for you at your favorite restaurant or whether to bring back the quarter zip or pullover hoodie. When I had the stomach flu in third grade, my brother knew to keep my so-called great food that was gentle on the stomach in my Minnie Mouse plate. The smallest details were the ones that meant the most to me, and still have an impact on me. People need someone who knows them well, inside and out, good and bad included. Who better than someone that will be present throughout the growth in your life?

As great as their support may be, there are always the frustrating moments. “Do this, you’re younger” or “I’m older so I’m the boss of you”. Granted if there are two children who are eight and ten, the ten-year-old will typically be in charge in case of emergencies. In my case, the older sibling was not always the mature one. I had my moments taking charge and being in the lead. Downtown Chicago isn’t the safest, especially at night. Since the desire of taking our time at Giordano’s held a greater weight than missing our train back home, my idea to leave the restaurant earlier was shut down simply because I was the youngest and my word didn’t hold enough power. After catching an overpriced Uber and running towards Union Station, we still ended up missing the 8:25 train. Just to my luck, the trains ran every two hours after 8:00 pm leaving two teenagers alone in Union Station at dark. I only began laughing that night after I was the one watching my sibling get hounded for their poor planning.

A greater number in age does not always equate brilliance or wisdom, and a smaller number is not always the equivalent of being immature or irresponsible. It is simply a number that tends to hold more weight than it should in many families. I am grateful to have a relationship in which both my older sibling and I are able to take the lead and look out for each other, in the mutual friendship we have molded and built.

Since you are related as siblings, you begin with guaranteed unconditional love as family. If my older sibling and I were in a fight, I knew it would not last long because they will need someone to accompany them on their quick ice cream run or someone to bail them out of a not-so-exciting family dinner. The relationship is mutual, a two way street with the unwritten rule of ‘You help me I help you’. Being the one born second or even third is not as bad as it may seem to the ones born first. I grew picking the better parts from my older sibling to become the best person I could be. There are quirks in our “You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” relationship, but, for the most part, it is smooth sailing, even with the occasional wave rocking the boat.