17 Reasons Why Brothers Are the Best

Growing up with brothers and sisters is fun, but brothers add a particularly protective and chaotic flair to the sibling experience.

Though they can drive you crazy at times, growing up with siblings can make life a lot more fun. Even if you don’t always get along, at the very least they keep life interesting.

I have an older brother who couldn’t be more different from me in many ways. But, based on my own experiences, and those of friends with brothers, there are plenty of reasons to really appreciate your bro.

Here’s a list of a handful of things that will make you grateful for them, even if they can sometimes get under your skin.

You’ve Got a Built-In Best Friend

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If you grew up with a brother, you never had to worry about who you were going to play with. The two of you could take turns deciding what to play.

Or, if you’re anything like me and my brother, you simply accepted that one of you was much bossier and went along with whatever they wanted to do.

Either way, you got to always have company around and a playmate to try out new games or go exploring with while the adults did their boring adult stuff.

They’ll Look Out for You

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My brother is significantly quieter than I am, so you wouldn’t necessarily know how protective he is.

But at my wedding, he came up to me and my new husband and joked around about that scene in the first season of “Breaking Bad”when the characters use the wrong type of tub when trying to get rid of a body and the acid sips through the entire house. He laughed then looked my husband in the eyes and said, “I’ll use the right tub,” then walked away.

He was, of course, joking around. But he in his own dark sense of humor way, he wanted to get across the point that he will always have my back.

Brothers are awesome like that.

You Have a Partner in Crime

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Let’s face it: When you’re growing up, you can get into all sorts of shenanigans.

While it may be your parents’ job to attempt to keep you out of them and punish you depending on how bad you screw up, your brother can be someone you confide in and help you either get out of them — or maybe to help you get deeper into them. It takes two to stage a cover-up.

They Won’t Judge You

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Other people in your life may have expectations of who you should be or what you should do.

But brothers just want you to be you and for you to be happy.

So no matter what you may be up to or where you may be in your life, they won’t judge you for it.

They’re Easy to Hang Out With

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There are very few people in your life you can probably just hang out with sometimes without even talking yet still enjoy their company.

Brothers are often those people. When you grow up together, you share a bond that makes it easy to often pick up wherever you left off as if no time has passed.

And, now as adults, if you want to just chill and play video games with some beer, that’s A-OK by them.

They’re Top Notch Pranksters

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Pranks are the spice of life, and brothers can be true spice masters.

There’s nothing like a good prank to keep you on your toes and get your adrenaline pumping.

Eventually, of course, you can catch up onto them and know that something might be coming and, maybe even, prank the prankster.

They Give Good Advice

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Sometimes people you grow up with may offer up advice you didn’t necessarily ask for and don’t necessarily want.

But with brothers, they tend to take the role of a neutral third party who can more easily step outside of a situation and see it more clearly.

When you ask for it and they offer it up, it can be surprisingly helpful.

They Keep You Up to Date on Sports

Brothers keep you up to date about sports

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If you’re not particularly interested in the world of sports, but you have a brother who is, you still might be able to convince people you care about a certain team just from listening to their personal highlight reel.

This can be especially helpful if you decide to join some sort of fantasy league and aren’t sure what to do.

You can use your built-in family cheat code by asking your brother for help.

They’re Competitive

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Sibling rivalry is a very real thing. And your brother trying to top you can help you strive to achieve even more in your life.

You want to do well for your own reasons, of course.

But, sometimes, wanting to do better than your brother can be a very strong motivator for all sorts of achievements.

They Tell It Like It Is

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One of the nice things about siblings is that they don’t tend to pull punches when it comes to telling you things.

Because you two are basically equal in each other’s eyes (at least hopefully so), you can talk to each other bluntly and frankly.

Though there are times that can be a tough pill to swallow, it’s also refreshing to know you can get a truly honest answer from someone who knows you well.

They Can Cheer You Up

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When you share a childhood with another person, you two automatically have a ton in common (even if it may not always seem like it) and get each other on a very unique level.

If and when you get down, it can sometimes take a brother who knows you better than you sometimes know yourself to cheer you up.

And, very likely since they have the same parents and upbringing, they have at least a very similar or complementary sense of humor to yours, which means they really know how to make you laugh.

They Can Actually Put Up With You

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If we’re being honest, we’re not all exactly little angels wandering around this planet. Not now and, despite the fact that we were way cuter then, that wasn’t true even when we were kids.

Growing up is filled with challenging scenarios and frustrating learning experiences. And as much as you may think you were great at it, there were inevitably times when you were less than charming to be around.

Your brother had to learn how to deal with you during those times. And, as a result, he can still probably deal with you better than most other people can when you’re not exactly being your best self.

They Teach You to Put Up With Others

Brothers quote: Having a brother teaches you patience

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Just like they have patience for you, you learn firsthand how to have patience for other people.

As is the case with me and my brother, some siblings have very different personalities. There’s plenty of bond and love between them, but the actual way they think, act, and live their lives can be very different.

Knowing at a young age that people are simply different and learning to adjust your expectations and accommodate those differences is a lesson you can benefit from your entire life.

They Teach You to Compromise and Share

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When you grow up with a brother, you automatically learn that not everything is for you.

Even though you might want that whole brownie, if there’s only one, you’re going to have to share it. Even though that piano toy might be your favorite, if your brother wants to play with it for a while, you’re going to have to let him.

Knowing and understanding that other people have needs and value is what makes society a better place. So, really, your brother helps you become a better citizen.

They Teach You to Stand Up for Yourself

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There’s nothing like someone who knows how to push your buttons that will teach you to stand up for yourself quickly.

All siblings test boundaries and can be pushy. If you just let them walk all over you, you’ll never be able get by in the real world. Luckily, there’s something about a brother pushing you that can make you almost viscerally react, and teach you that standing up for yourself can get you results.

Sure, maybe you both end up in time out, but at least you didn’t let him get away with it. The same is true in real life. Even if you end up being punished, at least you know that you should stand up for yourself and can always do so hoping for the best.

They “Get” Your Family Like You Do

Brotherhood means someone always understanding you

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Even if you explain your childhood to someone with all the experiences and personalities involved, no one is going to understand it quite like someone who lived it right alongside you.

If you get frustrated with your parents or some family issue, a brother is going to totally get where you’re coming from like nobody else.

Even as you grow up, your brother will continue to understand you on a level that nobody else can, which can be nice when you just want someone to listen, hear, and truly get where you’re coming from.

They Show You Unconditional Love

Brothers quote about how someone will always be there for you

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Say what you will about your sibling, there’s something comforting and truly wonderful about growing up with a brother.

No matter what ups and downs you may go through together, you know that you have someone who will truly love you no matter what the circumstance.