Article #4
A big brother is someone you should be able to look up to, that is exactly the person that Tanner Kollbaum wanted to be for his Younger brother. However, it wasn’t that easy, it takes a lot of patience and positive attitude along the way.
Tanner Kollbaum is 30 years old and has been an older brother for about 22 years now and he says that there are different things that you are able to see when you are a big brother. “It is fun to see your brother grow up in front of you and either make the same or different decisions as you and how they respond to the outcome.”
Tanner says watching his brother grow up was interesting because he was the only child before his brother Jonah was born so it was boring for him. “I remember just being by myself a lot and not enjoying it that, then my brother was born and everything was different from there.”
Tanner was involved in a lot of his little brothers life, like football. Both of the Kollbaum boys enjoyed playing football in their youth, Tanner was Jonahs youth football coach and taught him a lot. “Getting to teach my brother a lot of the things that I have learned from playing football for so long was fun, it is nice having someone look up to you and listen.
One of the biggest things that a big brother should try to do is teach their siblings the difference between right and wrong. Growing up, Tanner was an A+ student throughout school. He was always on top of his studies and says that he believes he tried to make sure his brother was the same.
“Whenever I would comeback from college to visit, I always would ask him how school was going and if he ever needed any help with anything to call me.” Tanner believes that it is his job as a big brother to make sure that his brother does not make the same mistakes that he made growing up.
Tanner says now that him and his brother are older and more mature it is nice to look back on the moments that they shared together growing up.
Holly Kollbaum, Jonah and Tanners mother says she was very blessed to have two sons that care for each other so much. “Ever since Jonah was a baby, Tanner always shared a special connection with him,” she also thinks “Tanner did a really nice job showing Jonah that sometimes life isn’t going to go your way, what is important is to keep going and believe in yourself.”
Tanner’s father, Chris, seemed to be the most surprised at how well of a big brother he is when he had a moment to sit back and reflect on it. “Tanner was a quiet shy kid growing up who didn’t really talk to a lot of people, so to see him with his brother having fun and growing up together really makes me a happy dad.”
Being a good big brother to some people may seem difficult. But for some people, such as Tanner Kollbaum, they seem to have the whole thing pretty well figured out. All you have to do is make sure to always remind your brother to be a good person and above all stay patient and positive.
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