Two Years as a Big Brother

Last night, as I was driving to pick up my little brother, I was struck by the fact that it has been nearly two years since we were matched. Many things in both my life and his life have changed in the last two years, but what hasn’t changed is the ongoing commitment to spend time together.

I approached the whole Big Brothers thing with excitement, but also a bit of trepidation. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure that I could be a good mentor or role model for a kid. I don’t have life figured out, so what wisdom can I impart on someone else?

Through this experience, I’ve learned that I don’t have to be perfect and I don’t have to attempt to share some great wisdom or knowledge with him. All I really have to do is remain committed to spending time with him and do a lot of listening. I don’t know that he will remember anything I have said to him in 10 years, but I’m pretty sure he will remember that someone cared enough about him to take him to baseball games, play video games with him, and teach him how to fix his bike.

I have also been really fortunate that my little brother is such a good and respectful kid. We also share a lot of the same interests, which makes the times we hang out really fun and surprisingly easy. The credit for that goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters. They work very hard to create compatible matches and provide the much-needed ongoing support.

In addition to all of the good times we have had and everything I have learned from this experience, I think the most important part of any type of service is it’s ability to make you stop thinking about yourself for at least a few hours. All of us, and I am no exception, can become obsessed with our own lives and everything we have to deal with on a daily basis. Thinking about what someone else wants or needs helps put our lives into perspective.

If you have any thoughts about joining BBBS, I highly recommend contacting them. It’s a fantastic organization and an incredibly rewarding experience.