Firstly, it teaches you how to be competent. As much as parents pretend they never compare siblings, they always do, and especially when there is a smaller age gap, you find yourself at constant competition with your sibling for everything.
Children with siblings are always complaining about their siblings, mostly because they can be quite a pain, sometimes (read: all the time). They fight with you, get everything you don't, tell your parents everything you do wrong, and take away all the attention you were supposed to get. Nevertheless, there are some real pros of growing up with a sibling, which today's 'one child' generation might want to know about.
Firstly, it teaches you how to be competent. As much as parents pretend they never compare siblings, they always do, and especially when there is a smaller age gap, you find yourself at constant competition with your sibling for everything. My brother and I both play different sports, and we're always trying to achieve more and be better. While that can backfire, it actually made me a really competitive person, which has helped me win a lot more in life.
Secondly, it gives you a friend for life. No matter how stupid your sibling may seem, they still live in the same house as you and know almost everything though you might not realise. They can figure out when you're sad or need some support, and they will be able to do that for the rest of your life. Whenever you really need someone to talk to, you can always go into the next room and spill, even if they act like they don't care, they really do. The companionship never ends.
Lastly, siblings are like your safety net. Whenever you have nobody to fall back on, you always have them. If you need to hide something from your parents, they will almost always try and go with it, and if you need to sneak into your house at 3 am, in a not-so-presentable state, they'll be there to open the door. They'll lend you cash when you're broke and they will deliver things to you, if you've forgotten something. They're like fairy godmother sometimes, except a lot more annoying.
While they are the absolute worst, they're really amazing too, and you'll miss them when you're gone to college, or no longer living in the same city. Trust me, every single child has wished at least once that they have a sibling, so keep yours close. They may help you out later more than you could ever imagine.
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