There’s a lot people know about me. Like the fact that I had an on-again/off-again relationship with Raven-Symone in the late 80’s. Or that I once referred to Nicholas Sparks as "the only author that can bring a man to tears by reading the title alone". Or that I came fairly close to completing a Rubik’s Cube last year.
But there is one thing that a lot of people do not know.
I am a big brother. (Not like a member of the Big Brother program, but like actually a big brother.)
When Benjamin was born, I was a wee leprechaun of two-and-a-half years. I could poop in the toilet and I had a pretty good handle on velcro-ing my shoes, but that was about it. Little Benjy changed that. I quickly realized that this little baby boy was my creature to mold. To shape into a super-human with the power to think, speak, and act like his older influence. Over the years, this realization emerged in the form of outdoor training sessions (where I timed Benjamin as he did push-ups and ran laps around the backyard), mind tests (where I challenged him to create new inventions out of old asthma puffers and water jugs), and entertainment classes (where I forced him to be the guest on my radio show and didn’t let him say much). These were all important activities, not only for Benjamin’s well-being but for my understanding of life. I learned how to work with a partner in crime. And that when you abuse your situation, it always stings you back.
There was a lengthy period of time when everything Benjamin did seemed to annoy me to no end.
"WHY DOES HE HAFTA COPY EV’RYTHING I DO!?" I would scream to my mother.
"Because he loves you, and he looks up to you." She would calmly reply.
I vividly remember one incident at the lunch table when Benjamin asked for pickles on his sandwhich after he noticed I was enjoying mine. I stormed out of the room– tears running down my cheeks and yelling to the heavens: "He doesn’t even LIKE pickles!"
This is a big moment in big-brother-land. The time and attention you spend on your little man seems to turn against you. That cute little baby has turned into a walking, talking, mirror-image of yourself. And it isn’t easy to accept this natural occurance. You don’t want to be mimicked! You want to hang out with new friends and learn about their way of living. You want to leap from infant to young man, but there is this whiny little baby version of you popping up everywhere you turn!
When I started to tour a lot, and then when I moved across the country, my connection with my brother may have become less frequent– but it has never weakened. Brothers are like old war buddies. We’ve been though it all together and though we don’t talk every day, it doesn’t mean that feeling isn’t still there. He is his own person now (ironically and thankfully a much different person than me) but I like to think that he still does a few things because he thinks "this is probably what Kyle would do."
If you’re a big brother, I hope you realize what a privilege it is. You should thank your parents for shacking up one more time, and giving you that little buddy.
And now the truth.
The reason I felt like writing this today is because I saw this video. And I think it may be the best thing EVER posted on the internet:
Hahahha oh my god that video is brilliant. I wasn’t a big brother…uh, obviously, but my mom babysat so most of my friend were younger than me and I had many moments were I stormed off crying because they were copying me.
For a really long time, I thought I had gotten over it, but only realized that my friends were just more my age, and when I got a friend younger than me again I learned that I never actually got over it.
Actually there’s more to the story that would make my annoying feelings much more justified…but oh well.
That is the most adorable video in the world.
And, as the youngest of three, I must agree that we younger siblings only copy because we think very highly of our older siblings. That is until you get to the point where you want to do your own thing, too.
Very nice blog today Kyle.
that is the best video ever. awww
and i was trying to picture u storming out of a room crying just because ur brother wanted pickels, and im not even gonna lie, i literally LOL’ed haha.
very cute.
I can totally relate…. from a big sister’s perspective.
it’s a very scary thing when your baby brother can drive a car, and is scouting out college programs but I feel a ton of pride in the person he’s become.
makes me feel a little sad for single kids.
Omg…the video is amazing…so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well,I’m the youngest in my family and I have 2 big brothers!!!!! They’re great with me and I love them!!!!!!! Like your brother,I usually copied what my brothers did cause I wanted to seem older!!!!! And actually,I still do this sometimes =)
I really like this blog Kyle!!!!!!!!!!
You are profound way beyond your years!
Awh! That video is amazing! And this totally made me call MY older brother, you’re a great person Kyle.
your little brother looks like a mini you.
hahhaa.
hes a cutieee
ohhh i know what being the oldest is.
im 1st out of 5. haha. beat that.
i know from experience being a big brother isnt easy i can two little brothers who look up to me alot so i have to watch everything i do because i know they try and copy it but to have a bigger older brother is a privilege its self
you are such a great writer. I love picturing the way you were. As i’m an older sister, I know exactly what you are talking about.. The video was so funny i had tears.
aww that was cute. i’m an older sister but i know the feeling. I love my brother but even now he is a bit much. Best of luck with everything and thanks for the add on myspace!
oh to be back in the days of kylaven-simone. the world has never been the same.
Know what you’re talking about. I’m the eldest of 4… One is a brother who’s four years younger than me. I was so proud the day he was born, I can’t even tell you! Finally I had a little brother! And he was all mine… Plus a cousin who has always admired me. She used to love nothing more than to wear my outgrown clothes. I remember I once demonstrated to the two of them that stones sink in water but pinecones and wood float. How they marveled at my wisdom..!
I really enjoyed this blog, mostly becausea I understood what you were trying to get at. You have such an eloquent way with words. I’m not a boy, so I’m not a big brother, but I have 3 big brothers whom I’ve tried to imitate nonstop when I was younger because I wanted to be cool like them. And now I’m a big sister to 2 little boys and 5 beautiful girls. They look up to me; and though they may annoy me, they give me purpose. They are why I go to school and get straight A’s and not do drugs. They see me as someone to be like, someone to copy. Why not give them someone admirable to copy. Someone everyone could be proud of. Thank you so much for sharing this. It has brought up many feelings and memories.