Whenever two girls get a new baby brother, you end up with two little mothers in training. They want to be part of everything, even if they’re only five and seven years older than him. In fact, that age gap might make them even more eager to show off their “skills.” Younger sisters might not pay much attention to a baby brother, but once they start feeling grown-up, they want the world to notice. As for that little brother…well, he can count on years of being bossed around by those sweet, innocent-looking, bossy mommies in training. That’s exactly the world my brother-in-law, Ron Schulenberg, was born into. Those first couple of years were probably bliss, with his big sisters cuddling and doting on him, but once he hit the toddler stage and the terrible twos arrived, those loving big sisters became just as bossy as they could be.
I first met Ron when I started dating his older brother, Bob, and it was clear he had a knack for being in the 
wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing…especially when it came to his older sisters, Jennifer and Brenda, with Marlyce and Debbie in full agreement. Boys will be boys, but their sisters were never amused. I lost count of how many times Jennifer and Brenda told him to “knock it off and behave.” He’d just be trying to show off for company, and those big sisters would embarrass him without hesitation! Still, there were good times too, when they’d include him in their activities and everything would be great again…otherwise, he might not have liked his sisters much at all.
It was lucky for Ron that he had a big brother among his four older sisters, one who didn’t mind hanging out with his little brother, even on a date. Bob had spent his whole life with two older sisters and quite a while with two younger ones, so he knew exactly what sisters were like. Naturally, he sided with his little brother…guys have to stick together, right? After all, it was four against two, and those were tough odds. And for Ron, there was the added insult of always being the baby brother, even at the grand old age of five. Four sisters and two macho brothers…you get the idea.
The good news is that Ron grew up, and like most siblings, age brought friendship. His sisters realized how handy he was to have around, especially when they needed a helping hand. Ron’s a talented mechanic and pretty skilled with carpentry tools too, so whenever something needs building, he’s the go-to guy. He’ll always be their baby brother, but we all agree he’s far from a baby now…in fact, the youngest is the tallest! Maybe that was for self-defense, who knows. Today is Ron’s birthday!! Happy birthday Ron!! We love you!!
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