Parenting 101

There's nothing that will teach you to be a parent faster than living with a younger sibling, whether a minor or otherwise. Because the truth is, siblings never grow up, at least not in your eyes. Where everyone else sees a 5'10" 21 year old man, I see a 4 year old, with a shy smile, who needs me to hold his hand while crossing the road, and loves bedtime stories.

Sharing an apartment with my brother for a little less than a month has made me realize that this 'kid' has long ago stopped throwing tantrums, saying cute things almost on cue and is also too big to be carrying around (yeah, I am a little slow sometimes). Being in college for the past 8 years (wow!), I've missed this little guy's transition into adulthood almost completely.

Now, having to do all the cleaning, cooking, ironing and clearing up, I do feel like a mom. Also, I begin to appreciate the effort that my Mom had to make when we were kids. Between telling my brother to get off the computer, helping him plan coursework, trying to think of new dishes to make, arranging stuff around the house and doing grocery shopping, while balancing regular lab work during the week, I have little or no time left to waste on the internet and generally laze around. This, more than anything else, is what will prepare me for managing my own future family.

However, in spite of all the extra work and responsibility, I am very, very thankful to have a family member in such close proximity. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the one childhood quality he still hasn't lost (and this is very important): the ability to laugh at all my jokes, however poor they may be. God bless little brothers and their capacity to care.