As someone with two younger sisters, I can attest to the fact that it is, indeed, a blessing and the best gift your parents can give you. Here are some of the ways how having a little sister changes your life.

You learn to care and protect

When it comes to the safety and long term happiness of your kid sisters, big-brother mode is automatically triggered. With age comes wisdom, learning from past blunders, and when it comes to your little sister making the same mistake, you get protective. 

At the same time, there are instances when you realize that the best way she’s going to learn, is by messing up - just like you did. You give her the leeway and space to fall flat on her face, but when it happens, you’re the first person to pick her up, brush her off, and set her back on her way again.

You set a higher standard for yourself

Little sisters are responsible for stopping you from doing a lot of regrettable things, simply by looking up to you. The responsibility of being a good role model constantly hangs over your head, and part of it is setting a good example.

Of course, you fuck up every now and then you act like a moron, but the most important thing is that you don’t want your little sister doing stupid things just because you were the one that made it OK.

You always have a best friend

Younger sisters are extremely loyal and stick by your side for life - through thick and thin. Growing up, you never worried about having friends because you always had your sisters. They are the closest friends you'll have for the rest of your life.

You learn to forgive and forget

She could be difficult and impossible. There will be times when you resent her. All siblings argue at some stage, but the best thing about it is that there is no way of staying angry with her for long - you'll forget it in a while because something funny will happen that you’ll have to tell her.

You get better with women and relationships, in general

Living with little sisters mean more experience early on getting exposed to conflict resolution, empathy and other interpersonal skills. After living with a woman for most of your young life, you learn when to make your point vs. when to keep your mouth shut, and that whether you like it or not, you’re siblings, and sometimes one person will need to apologize first – in order to progress together.

Men who grew up with sisters do much better in talking to women and tend to be more caring towards women in general. The relationship with their sister positively affects every other relationship they get into, be it friendship or marriage.

You become more balanced

People who have sisters are happier, more optimistic, and better at coping with life's problems. According to researcher Tony Cassidy at the University of Ulster, "Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health," and sisters just naturally bring this to a family situation making for less stressed and more balanced siblings.

- Dedicating this post to my lovely sisters