Whoa! I had just been thinking about my current relationship with my brothers this past week. There are three of them, and I am the only girl. Growing up was all about protecting my Barbie's from my older brother who wanted to see what would happen if you launch Barbie on her pink motorbike down the stairs. (The rearview mirrors and bike basket breaks, and Barbie rebounds off the tile.) Of course, I tried to convince my younger brothers it would be cool to dress up in my old halloween costumes and look like a Care Bear or a cheerleader. That didn't go over very well but makes for great blackmail pictures now!
The dynamics are a little different now. I am super protective of my younger brothers even though they they manage fine on their own. One is almost 15, and the other is almost 19. The older one, 26, and I seem to just coexist with the same last name currently.
The younger two and I can pretty much chat about anything. Problems I am having in school, work events, and just random things. The older brother and I were close at one point, but just don't really talk anymore. It's sad, but sometimes I think if he and I weren't related, he and I probably wouldn't even be aquaintences. However, we all respect each other and know we all have each other's back. Lol...my youngest brother still tells his friends to not mess with me because I'll "beat them up!"
On a different note: I think the youngest one used to get away with EVERYTHING! The rest of us basically were expected to be the ideal children involved in every activity with good grades to provide great parental bragging rights. The youngest one though got a cd player for improved grades, rules bent all over the place for him, you name it: it happened. We complained all the time how unfair it was.
As the rest of us moved out, went to college, or whatever, things started to change though.
I do envy those who have such fantastic and close relationships with their entire family, but I know that I have learned from all. Besides, I don't think I turned out so bad.
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