This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Winthrop chapter.

Being the older sibling has its ups and downs, and having a baby brother does too. Once they start to get older you realize certain things may change and they can possibly grow apart from you, but here are a few things you realize as your baby brother grows up:

1. He has your back – He will team up with you against any and everybody when it comes to protecting you and your feelings. Had a bad day and need someone to vent to? Go to your brother. Need someone to tell you you’re too good to be crying over stupid boys or lost friendships? Go to your brother.

2. You will always worry about him- Yes, he might be 16 and driving, but anything can happen in this crazy world we live in, right? Has he eaten? Is he being treated right? Is he making good decisions? You think back to what you were going through at his age and it scares you half to death.

3. He’s now bigger than you- Although he’s younger, he now towers over you. No more beating up on him and getting away with it.

4. He might even dress better than you- Depending on where you live or what the “fad” might be at the moment, your younger brother might be better dressed than you. You’ll probably even find yourself going through his closet for t-shirts.

5. He shaves- This is just weird on so many levels because he really is no longer a “baby.”

6. You can tell him things and he won’t go run and tell mom- He has finally learned the concept of keeping secrets. This can be very comforting.

7. You can actually hold a conversation with him- He’s smarter than you think, and being able to get his perspective or opinion on things, and them actually make sense is great.

8. You and your mom are no longer the only woman in his life- This is a hard one to grasp. It’s easy to get selfish when it comes to him and his attention.

9. He is one boy who will always love you- Unless you both have a falling out and never reconnect, you can basically count on always being loved by him.

So take your younger brothers out, and enjoy life with them while they are still young!

Believe it or not, you are one of their biggest role models and they look up to you in more ways than one. In most cases, they have seen you at both your best and at your worst…So what do you have to lose? Cherish the time you have with each other because life is moving FAST and you don’t want to miss out on making memories.

9 Things You Realize As Your Baby Brother Grows Up