Growing up, people always commented on how lonely I must have been without siblings or how I have missed out on a sibling rivalry/protective brother/first best friend/sister bond. But in reality, I really donāt feel like an only child in the social aspects of having a sibling.Ā Iām super close with all of my cousins. Iāve always felt that they were the siblings I never really got but with the luxury of not having to be with them 24/7. On both sides of my family we would do stuff for the big holidays, small holidays, just random day trips, vacations, going to as many games, plays, recitals, performances, etc. that we could go to. I have special bonds with each of my cousins. My first best friend/other half is my younger cousin, Caroline, and Iāve had her pinned as my maid of honor for when I get married since I first learned what a maid of honor is. And I believe that I do have the āprotective brotherā bond with my older cousin, Nik.
Nik is two years older than me and even in our baby pictures you could tell he would always protect me from dangers our in the world. As I grew into the toddler years, not only was I probably more fun to play with, but weād fight as well. Iād also bother him on purpose, which I still do occasionally. I sort of remember us getting on each other’s nerves very easily growing up, yet when needed, weād be there for each other no matter what. Iām also pretty sure that next to his brother growing up or even now, Iām the biggest pain in his butt. I just always wanted to be able to do what he could. He was older so he could do more things than I could, and he could do things first, which I found very unfair, such as drive, drink, sit at the adult table, etc. I always wanted to be able to do things with him. I would always support him with his interests such as PokĆ©mon and video games. I still do support him on everything, but his winter clothing attire…I mean who wears shorts, t-shirts and flip flops in the winter time and not freezeā¦.
As we got older,Ā Iād say we got into our very stubborn, moody personalities. I was obsessed with makeup, boys, and looking good and he turned into a quiet, angry teddy bear. This is where weād really get on each otherās nerves. He locked me in a food pantry with his brother and our little cousin because we were bothering him while he was watching us on vacation. He would tease me about any boy I mentioned on Facebook, Twitter, or in conversation, and even about my interests, aka Justin Bieber. Since he did everything first, he matured into an adult first, and would rather hang out and talk with the adults than play.
As I got older and grew into a mature adult, he started to become more protective, but heād never admit to that Iām sure. He still isāhe always tells me that if a boy ever hurts me, heāll be the first one knocking on his door. Since my favorite summer concert venue is basically down the street from his house, every time he knows Iām going to a concert or that someone I like is going to be there that night, he will text me and ask if Iām going, how Iām getting there,Ā and if I have a DD. Heāll also add that if the DD decides to drink or I get way too drunk, I canĀ call/text himĀ and heāll pick me up, take me home and take care of me, which I really appreciate.
By the end of high school, Iād say we started to get really close again, bonding over music, other common interests, andĀ hanging out. Yet before I knew it, he was graduating and I still rememberĀ that I never asked him where he wanted to go to college so I just assumed it wasĀ far away. I thought he was going to go away to a four year school and not be home for family stuff or be around for anything, and I actually cried from the thought of him not being around much. But instead he went to a two year,Ā so he was still close by for a few years. He was able to come to my senior night performance for majorettes.Ā I asked him to come and he took the night off from work and came.Ā It made my night all the more special, to be honest. We tell each other things because we have a lot of trust in each other.Ā He told me a āsecretā before most of the family knew, and Iād tell him stuff first too. Iām actually surprised that he wants to take me out to drink with him since Iām 21 now, butĀ glad that he at least wants to be seen in public with me.
I donāt think thereās any better way to grow up than with a cousin like him, I love him with all of my heart, and he is the best. So you can feel bad for my āsadā childhood of ālonelinessā but I enjoyed my childhood, with all of my cousins and the bonds that I have with each of them.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Thank you,Ā Nik, for being the best pseudo brother a girl could ask for.