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Being a big bruh? It’s not something you sign up for.
One day, you’re chilling, living your best life, and the next—boom—you’ve got this tiny, drooling human watching your every move like you’re some kind of superhero.
At first, it’s fun. They copy everything you do. They follow you around. You feel like the boss. The Alpha. The King.
And then it hits you.
This kid actually thinks you know what you’re doing.
Spoiler alert: You don’t.
It was a regular day. I was in the middle of something extremely important (read: probably losing a video game match I swore I had in the bag), when my phone rang.
It was my little bruh.
Now, usually, this means one of three things:
So, naturally, I almost didn’t pick up.
But something in me said, “Answer.”
His voice came through the speaker, and I knew instantly—this wasn’t a normal call.
"Bruh, I messed up. I’m in trouble. You have to help me."
Oh.
That’s when my stomach dropped. See, when your younger bruh calls you before they call Mom or Dad?
It’s serious.
Turns out, he got into it with a teacher. Said some things he shouldn’t have. And now? He was sitting in the principal’s office, waiting for judgment.
And instead of calling our parents?
He called me.
Let that sink in.
Me—the same big bruh who spent years stealing the last slice of pizza out of pure pettiness.
Me—the same guy who used to tell him ridiculous lies just to see if he’d believe them.
Yes, bruh, the WiFi does run out if you watch too many YouTube videos.
But in that moment? I wasn’t the enemy.
I was his lifeline.
Now, what I should’ve done was give him a solid, well-thought-out, responsible answer.
What I actually did?
Panic internally while trying to sound like I had my life together.
"Alright, listen. First—breathe. You’re not getting expelled. Second—don’t lie, but don’t let them walk all over you either. Be straight up."
Silence. Then, finally—
"You think it’ll be okay?"
Now, did I know it would be okay?
Absolutely not.
But what I did know was this—he needed to believe it.
So I told him the only thing that mattered.
"Yeah. Because I got you."
You spend your whole childhood fighting your younger bruh.
But somewhere along the way, something shifts.
Because while you’re busy annoying each other to death, they’re also watching you.
And one day, out of nowhere, they stop just looking up to you—
And start depending on you.
According to research, sibling relationships greatly influence social development and emotional intelligence [1]. Studies show that older siblings serve as role models and often shape their younger siblings’ coping mechanisms and interpersonal skills [2].
That day, my bruh handled it.
Did he get in trouble? Yeah.
Did he survive? Also yeah.
But when he got home, something was different.
He didn’t say much. Just a nod. A look.
A silent thank you.
And that’s when it really hit me.
Being a big bruh? It’s not about being perfect.
It’s not about having all the answers.
It’s about showing up.
Every single time.
Even when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.
[1] Kramer, L. (2010). "The essential role of sibling relationships in development." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80(4), 555-561. DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01060.x
[2] Whiteman, S. D., McHale, S. M., & Crouter, A. C. (2007). "Competing processes of sibling influence: Observational learning and sibling deidentification." Child Development, 78(5), 1297–1310. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01060.x
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