The Importance of Siblings.

"Side by side we will always be

Just a couple of nuts in the family tree"

When we were young, the 3 of us were a real piece of work. With 6 years in between me and the youngest of the bunch -my little brother, times at home were never dull.

We were the kind of family that was either constantly fighting or getting into trouble. At this point I am obliged to pay respect to both my parents for keeping up with us and still managing to turn us into decent human beings. Despite all the crap we pulled.

While growing up it was unimaginable to me that I would grow as attached to my brother and sister as I am today, yet these days: they are a big part of everything I fight for in life. Without these two annoying humanoids around I would be lost.

At school teachers had a horrible habit of asking about siblings and what it was like at home. As you can imagine the honest answer to any questions related to family relations ("That bruise on my leg isn't from sports but from getting bashed into the stairs for stealing my sister's walkman') could have gotten us into serious trouble.

You couldn't really tell I guess. At school we all had our own cliques and to boot I as the oldest was 6 years the senior to my brother and our school system makes for blocks of 6 years (usually).

I mentioned the bruises right? Yeah. Those were far from the worst we ever did to one another. More like our war paint. Our family colors sort of speak.

Here's what I'd love for them to know about all those years of fights and shouting matches and endless tears.

Sis: You and I were like yin and yang. If you said white I just had to do black. I'm not sure why we were the way we were but I do know that none of it has ever been a regret of mine. We both know that none of us are easy to get along with (it's a family thing), but damnit we toughed each other up big time. If it weren't for all your beatings, all the nasty things you said and I said back. The pushing down the stairs or off the bed, the drawings on your bedroom wall with mom's only lipstick. Or first shaving adventure on YOUR leg, hamper rides from the stairs and your crazy awesome fearless stunts. There is too much to be grateful for. Too much to mention here and a whole bunch of stuff that are just ours.

Brother: Where to begin on the topic of you? You deserve an apology as much as Sis does. I was not easy on you by any means. You had to endure a LOT of shit from me. Most of the time we were divided into 2 camps (unevenly I might add) and it's safe to say me and Sis made you into one tough cookie. We dressed you up, we made you say naughty things yet we never threw you in front of the bus. You made us laugh with your impersonations of everything and anything. Laugh until tears ran down my face. As the years went by I began to see you as a friend, which was less freaky than realizing you're truly turning into a man. Skinny man but a man nonetheless.

We're all twenty-somethings now and for us the best is yet to come. But thanks for the ride so far.

#QueenJoke #queenjoke #20somethinanything #siblinglove #familytimes #quarterlifelessons