Most kids get to enjoy life quite a bit even if they have a younger sibling(s). They have fun, not a care in the world. I, on the other hand, was slightly different. I was 6 going on 7 when my brother was born and though I loved the idea of being a big sister, with the way my family was, I had to grow up a bit faster. For instance, as far as I know, I was the first kid in my grade to make their own lunch. While my mom took care of my brother or was asleep and dad was at work, I would get up in the morning to make my own lunch for school. At first, I did have help from my aunt if she was up, but eventually, I was doing it on my own.

  When my brother started going to school with me, I instantly got in the routine of making both our lunches. I was in grade five at the time and like some kids that age, I was excited about my younger sibling going to school, mainly cause it meant I got to leave class 5 minutes sooner ;). I would sit with him on the bus sometimes to keep him out of trouble, but there were days I sat with one of my friends. The only problem was though, when I would sit with my friends, my brother tended to get picked on cause he was related to me. Now I could care less if they were doing rude things to me but I went out of my way, for the most part, to keep them from doing it to him. I asked the bus driver for them or my brother to be moved and stuff like that, cause we had assigned seats, to try and prevent the problems from happening. Let's just say bullies never quit!

Skip ahead 3 years

The year I was to graduate from grade 8, I immediately got my brother into the routine of making his lunch in the morning! when I got up, I would make prep my stuff and get dresses, since I was usually up at around 6:30, 7:00 in the morning (that was early considering our bus didn't come till almost 9.), I wouldn't wake him up till closer to 7:30 since he was still pretty young, like grade 2 I think. Mom was usually home before we left and she would occasionally get mad at me for forcing my brother up, or yell at him to get his stuff ready. But I always responded the same thing, "I'm not likely going to be able to get him ready in the morning when I go to high school next year! he needs to learn to do it himself!". 

Things went on.

The next year, I was right!

I had to be out by the road for my bus at around 7:10-7:20, give or take a few minutes! 

which means I no longer had time in the morning to make his lunch, heck, I sometimes barely had time to get all my stuff done in the morning. there were quite a few days where I would forget things...

Needless to say, mom said I was right to have my brother making his lunch in the morning with me while I was still there to help him. Because unlike probably most kids at that age, my brother was making his lunch, and it wasn't all packaged things!

I'm 18, now. and things are still hard, especially with the whole COVID-19 stuff going on. I'm stuck at home, and my mind is going insane because I am going to graduate this year, and I am kinda nervous cause I still feel like a little kid with no idea how the world works in terms of adult stuff. on the plus side, I was already planning on staying an extra year so I won't be caught completely with my pants down. but I am hoping to go to college and university after high school, so I'm really nervous about that. I do have a part-time job, well before this pandemic came about, so right now, I am without work, and since this is my first year for taxes, I had to get those done before I can apply for anything regarding the loss of work. 

Either way, all I can tell you is to enjoy life as a child as long as you can, cause it only lasts for so long. plan but don't overthink. and love your parents, don't give them a hard time, assuming they aren't those abusive kinds -w-*

regardless, enjoy life, and don't take things for granted.

Squirt Out ^_^