Backbone of the Family Tam basically a professional diaper changer. I have been taking care of babies ever since I could walk and talk. Being a big sister is hard work, but it becomes easier as my siblings grow older, because then, I can boss them around. Three older brothers, four younger brothers, a younger sister, and me, make up the Novak clan. Duties of a big sister include being a taxi driver, mother bear, babysitter, and a partner in crime. The job description comes with hardships and excitement.
It can be difficult to juggle the responsibilities of an older sister, working part-time after school and maintain a high GPA, but it is my duty to support my family as much as I can. Part of my role is acting like the taxi driver. My parents are always running around, shopping or working, so ever since I turned 16, my parents relied on me to make sure everyone arrives where they need to go. Making sure Gabe arrives home from football, basketball, speech team, knowledge bowl, work or pep band is a huge obligation. It is hassle waiting hours for Gabe until he is ready to go home, but I never leave him stranded in Royalton.
Occasionally, I would drive to Pierz to pick up my younger brother Chris from play practice or basketball practice, even though I was too busy studying for an upcoming important test. Sometimes, I even have to chauffeur my older brothers around, driving Michael to his job, dropping off Greg at his friends’ houses, and eventually picking up both of them from the bars at 2 A. M. , interrupting my beauty sleep. Even though I am a little sister to them, I act like their boss, since I am their only form of transportation. If one of my older brothers wants a ride, he better warm up my car and scrap off the snow, otherwise I won’t drive them.
It is my duty to make sure my brothers are happy and home safely, so I never ask for gas money. Whenever I see other kids tease my little brothers at school, a switch turns in my head and I become a mother bear. My 11 year old brother, Chris, is a sensitive child with one of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. A hard situation that concerned me was when Chris was forced to switch schools because of a bully on the bus. Sure, kids are picked on all the time, but it led to Chris waking up every day and wanting to sacrifice his education because of an ignorant and vile boy on the bus.
Thinking about the dilemma still gives me an uneasy feeling of grievance for my innocent brother. When Chris and Gabe were both bullied for their long hair, it upset me and shattered my heart in pieces. Only I am allowed to poke fun at them. As an older sister, I hope my brothers reach their full potential and make great friends as they grow up. I strive to do my best and help give them the best life possible and their happiness affects me. I regret not recognizing the signs of Chris’s unhappiness on the bus earlier, since I could have acted and done my job as a protector. I feel like I let him down.
It is my responsibility to help out my parents in any way that I can. I am the full time babysitter, which means I have to sacrifice going to the movies with my friends to watch my younger siblings while my parents are working late. I agonized staying home on weekends, but since my parents provide us a place to live by working three different jobs a day, the least I can do in return is make sure their kids don’t crack their skull open and brush their teeth before bed. One example that shows how well l babysit was when Chris, who at the time was two years old, wandered out the front door of our house and crossed the street.
At the time, we lived in Little Falls on a semi-busy street, kitty-corner to a small playground, and he ran straight for it once he escaped. Maybe I neglected his earlier pleas for me to take him to the park, which caused him to take matters into his own childish hands. When I looked out the window, I saw a baby with dark brown hair without a shirt or pants (the typical Novak men attire), sitting atop the 13 foot high metal slide.
A fire and rescue squad car was parked on the street with the lights flashing, which grabbed the attention of neighbors and passersby. Oh, great,” I thought, “Now my neighbors won’t allow me to watch their kids anymore. ” I sprinted out the door barefoot to rescue the wild child. Once I arrived, the officer narrowed his eyes at me in annoyance, mentally scolding me for my poor babysitting skills. I was the hero of the day for saving him but, also, not a very good babysitter. Since I was the only girl in my family for 14 years, I was never close with my brothers because we never saw eye to eye. Growing up, I never thought Gabe and I were remotely similar. As he grew older, he developed the same talents I have, which gave us a reason to bond.
He’s musically inclined and has a knack for producing exceptional writing pieces which are exactly the same hobbies and traits I have Nowadays, Gabe and I share the same friends, which is very odd, since he is younger. Sometimes, I think people like him more than me, which seems strange to me, yet I don’t mind because Gabe is quite the character and easily likeable. He has become my partner in crime, as well. This phrase is taken literal in our relationship. Our “crimes” consist of me asking Gabe to cover up my tracks as I sneak out of the house to my boyfriend’s house.
Hey, Gabe, cover for me,” I say to him like a codeword. He knows the drill to make sure my parents don’t come into my room to see my empty bed or call me if my parents come home while I am gone. We have a lot of fun together, blasting the radio to Beyonce on our rides home and belting out the lyrics. Of course, I could bond better with Gabe if we were the same gender. We could have gossiped about boys, shared clothes and makeup, or shopped together like normal sisters. But, God stuck me with yet another brother. In my advantage, this means my clothes won’t mysteriously go missing, and cat fights won’t be a problem.
I wish that all of my brothers and sister find true love. I hope someone out in the world will recognize how amazing my siblings are and treat them with utmost respect. One day, Gabe’s name will be up in lights in New York City as a musical prodigy and Chris will prove his bullies wrong by making millions of dollars. The kindness my siblings spread is incredible as the world is full of hate today. As much as I want to move out, away from my crazy family, I will always try to be the best big sister I can be. I want my brothers and sister to know that I am only a phone call away as I head off to college five hours elsewhere.
