How To Deal With Brothers

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Deep in the heart of our noisy family is a pair of green-gray eyes that miss nothing, a smattering of freckles, and a strong, creative voice that can usually be heard belting out Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” or giggling loudly with her friends on FaceTime. A self-proclaimed artist, she loves to draw and write, and watch Rosanna Pansino’s “Nerdy Nummies” cooking show on YouTube.

Sage is the third of four kids, surrounded by brothers. She keeps the door of her bedroom firmly closed to all dogs and boys, except her dad, and when I peek inside I find her sitting at her small desk in the corner with a pen in her hand, her long, dark hair hiding her earnest concentration. I wish she’d tie her hair back.

Her drawings, poems and stories are full of the sugar and spice of 9-year-old girls, often with a small twist or a quietly shrewd observation that reminds me just how much those eyes are noticing.

At the end of the school year, when she was still 8, she presented me with a “How To” manual created as a class assignment:

How To Deal With Brothers by Sage Gilbert

Do you have a brother? Do you want to know how to deal with him? High School, Middle School, Little, Older, College, Baby? Older or little married or not married? Twin? Then this book is for you! I can help you handle difficult times with your brother.

Baby Brothers

With baby brothers, you want to help your mom, and play with them as much as you can because soon they won’t want to play with you.

Little Brothers

If they go to the same school as you, then it is okay to talk to them. Little brothers love you, but sometimes they are mean to you.

Twin Brothers

Twin brothers try and want to mock you. So if they do, ignore them. They also try to annoy you.

Older Brothers

If you go to the same school as your older brother do NOT talk to him! This is for all kinds of older brothers.

All Brothers

This is for all kinds of brothers. Turn on your audio so that you can record what they say to you. Then you can show your parents.

Middle School Brothers

You want Middle school brothers to notice you so annoy them. If that doesn’t work then hide from them or tap them repeatedly.

High School Brothers

High school brothers are normally very grumpy, so ignore them. You want high school brothers to notice you, so annoy them. And if that doesn’t work then tap them repeatedly or hide from them.

College Brothers

For College brothers, you barely ever see them, so my advice is to have good times with him while it lasts.

These guidelines have been published with permission of the author.

This is a Finish the Sentence Friday post, inspired by the prompt, “I Wish I Knew…” Hosted by Kristi from Finding Ninee, and co-hosted by Mardra of Mardra Sikora and Jill from Ripped Jeans & Bifocals.

36 thoughts on “How To Deal With Brothers”

  1. Awww. I especially like the advice for Older Brothers and College Brothers. I didn’t have an older brother and I think that I always idealized what that relationship might be like in my mind.

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  3. Oh Nicki!! This is adorable and priceless and so so perfect. I love it! And now, I must meet Sage in this life of mine here on the east coast.

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  4. Wow, I LOVE this so much!!! My favorite is the advice for dealing with college brothers :). Maybe she could write a short column called “Sage Advice”. What an amazing picture too!

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    • Oooh I love the name of her column! You are very clever Peter ;).
      I took this pic in the crater in Mizpe Ramon – the best place to take control of ones brothers is in the desert!

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  9. This needs to be made into an e-book with illustrations. It’s beautifully concise and true! Can you imagine the next books? How to deal with sisters, moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, testy bosses, flirty deli-counter clerks …

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  10. Love, love this! I would have so appreciated a guide like this when I was growing up, though I only knew from the little and baby brothers. But all of her advice is indeed sage. And I loved your description of her, she sounds so much like my daughter whose middles name is her first name. Would love to get our families together some day. And please tell your Sage that if she ever needs a grown-up who gets brothers to talk to, I am here!! : ) Thanks for sharing her wisdom with us. xo

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  12. Wow, I wish I could write as concisely and to the point as Sage. I’m 50 and my big brother is 60, but I’m totally going to try the tapping thing when I see him this weekend at a family wedding. Ha! Love to you and to Sage!

    Nancy

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