11 Reasons You’re Actually Super Lucky To Have A Little Brother

Awww, little brothers are so cute … until they grow up. Then suddenly, he can talk and walk on his own, and realize that his life’s mission is to annoy you to death. But at the end of the day, we still love them just as much we did when we first saw them.

And if we’re being honest with ourselves, we know we’re the luckiest people in the world for having them. Here’s why.

1. You’ve built up a resistance to annoying things.

All those pinches, pokes, kicks under the table, hair pulling (do we really need to go on?) helped give you a super-high threshold for annoyance. Now if someone bothers you at work? No big deal. They’re nothing compared to an annoying little brother.

2. He can give a guy’s perspective free of charge.

He’s a guy and he’s your little brother. The least he can do is give you some small insight into the minds of men. And really, what little brother would give up a freebie chance to tell you what he thinks?

3. He gives you a reason to be wild and crazy.

Everyone knows boys are loud and wild. So if you’re hanging with him, it’s only natural you’d let our your inner animal.

4. You have a knight it shining armor … or jeans, whatever.

Whether it’s beating up the guy who hurt you, keeping you safe from all the creeps by walking next to you, or being the one you grab onto during a horror movie, he’s always there when you need him. And no matter how cool he may pretend to be, you know he would be there if you needed him to help you hide a body.

5. You have the perfect scapegoat.

“I didn’t break (insert anything here),” and really, who are your parents more likely to believe broke it? You: the demure, angelic, older sister, or him: the wild, rambunctious younger brother?

6. You have someone to share your wisdom with.

They really should write down all the brilliant life lessons and pearls of wisdom you share with him, because it’s obviously pure gold. Even if they never asked for our two-cents, we won’t hesitate to add it.

7. You had great practice as a teacher and mother.

You learned to be responsible, loyal, considerate, kind, loving and more. And we all know whoever he ends up with will thank you fervently for helping to teach him how to be the perfect man.

8. All those family get-togethers are much more bearable now.

Hey, if you don’t know those second cousins and great-great aunts are, then surely your younger brother won’t. Which is perfect, considering you’ll need company at the awkward reunions.

9. You have someone there to teach you the important things in life.

Like sports, so you can pretend to understand what your guy is talking about. You know, the things that really matter.

10. He prepared you in advance for having sons of your own.

Seeing how he was growing up and helping to take care for him, you’re ready if you ever have to take care of boys of your own rambunctious boys. You saw all the tricks he pulled and know how crazy they can get. You can handle it.

11. He’s your number one fan.

You two might pick on each other, annoy each other, and even fight and yell at each other. But the next minute you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing. And if anyone else ever tried to start up with you, he would be there to beat them up.

You guys are the only ones who can be mean to each other, because you’re family. He may try to annoy you to death, but at the end of the day that’s really what being family is all about.

This post originally appeared at YourTango.