Being an older sibling is tough for lots of reasons but I know that it has in fact made me a better and stronger person. I have learned more from the five kiddos after me than I could have ever imaged. Here is just a glimpse of why being an older sibling makes you a better person for all my nonbelievers, babies of the family, and only children.
1. You were the guinea pig.
Your parents had no idea what the heck they were doing when they popped you out into this crazy world. I know I rolled off the hospital bed within my first few days here (it's okay mom I forgive you). Even you middle children can feel this struggle; with my brother Cody my parents were still learning the parenting ropes. For this you are physically stronger from all the tumbles you took and have a killer immune system from all that dirt they did not see you eating.
2. You always took the blame.
Your sibling threw a ball in the house and broke your mom's favorite picture frame? You will hear your full name be screamed first because you were the person supposed to be watching them. Taking the blame has become an art now, but it has helped you through your teenage and college years because. You're just so darn good at it. Friends got caught drinking? Even if you did not take a sip the story somehow morphs into you being the one that bought it and forced it down their throats. No biggy.
3. You were the world's youngest and most underpaid baby-sitter.
Mom or dad need to run to the store? āHey ya'll will be okay right?" āYou do have my number memorized?" Yes mom I am 9-year-old watching a 6-year-old what could go wrong here? You did not even know people got paid to do such acts until later in your teenage years. So technically this college tuition thing can be you guys just paying us back. Thanks mom and dad. Now this has led you to almost always being the babysitter going out with friends. We need a DD tonight well I guess that is going to be me... again. It's not your fault, it's in your DNA and cannot be undone. You have been taking care of others for so long there is no coming back.
4. You learned to share.
Does not matter if it is the remote control or your parent's time you know the world does not revolve around you. If your parents did not make it to every sporting or academic event you had because one of your siblings had something at the same time you, and you understood. You knew they loved you and wanted to be there. Being an older sibling means sharing your parent's time and energy and being okay with it. Sharing is an important lesson in life and if you never had the opportunity to learn it college will hit you hard. Sometimes your roommate will borrow that shirt without asking and IT IS OK (even if you haven't worn it yet, no I'm not crazy). Sharing is caring and being an older sibling taught you this way to early.
Being able to tell someone you hate their freaking guts and know you could not live a day without them annoying the snot out of you, is one of the craziest things in the world. This taught you what true love and friendship actually is. Having someone to tell you that a guy/girl does not deserve you and mean it, someone to say that dress makes you look like a donkey, or someone to stick up for you even when you don't know about it...THAT is what true friendship is. This gave you an amazing judgment of character; you can smell someone's bad juju from a mile away. That saved you from a lot of broken hearts and knifes that otherwise would have been stabbed in your back.
The bond between siblings can never be broken the love is unconditional. Being the older sibling somehow feels like you had a part in raising them and making them who they are. Being a big sibling is hard and if anyone tells you other wise they are either...
A. the youngest sibling or
B. They are lying.
Being an older sibling is one of those things you could never imagine not being. It is a part of you and those little devils you call your brothers and sisters will always hold a big place in your heart. When I am laid to rest and my tombstone reads the word āsister" I want my siblings to look at it and know that it is more than just a title it was one of my biggest joys, lessons, and accomplishments in life and it made me a better person. They made me a better person.
