Us older siblings have this sort of shared experience. Older siblings get a bad rap a lot of time. We are bossy. We are like third parents. We are know-it-alls. Us older siblings actually know that we have more responsibility, we always have to do what the younger sibling wants to and our parents are harder on us. Here’s a list we can all relate to.
1. Your parents have no clue what they're doing.
It's sad but true. We get experimented on. Our parents have no idea what the heck they are doing. As the first child they have absolutely no experience whatsoever. Things like high school, college tours and the first time you play a park district sport are always interesting. If they mess up on us at least they have another chance or two.
2. Your younger siblings get to do things you never got to do at their age.
This has got to be the most annoying part about being the oldest sibling. Your younger siblings get phones before you did. They get to watch PG-13 movies before you did. They even get to hang out downtown alone before you did. And this bothers you so much because it's not fair!
3. The extra 30 minutes you got to stay up were the best part of the day.
You always felt so cool when your siblings had to go to bed and you got to stay up. You could watch another episode of your favorite TV show, read more of your book or bother your parents with questions. The best part was watching your little siblings be forced to go to sleep.
4. You're expected to be the mature one.
Without fail you have to be mature. Your parents always told you not to fight and let it go. You were supposed to turn the other cheek and pretend like your annoying little sibling didn't bother you. Even when you got so mad at them you had to play it cool or else you'd get in trouble.
5. Once you hit 16 you became a chauffeur for your younger siblings.
Your parents could not wait for you to get your drivers license. That very same day they probably sent you to the grocery store, to pick up your younger brother from practice and to drop your sister off at her friend's house. You never got the car without some sort of condition.
6. You always had more responsibilities.
Because you were the oldest your parents gave you the most chores. You also were in charge of dinner, making sure your siblings did their homework and taking care of the dog. Whenever you complained about it you inevitable got the "well you're the oldest" thrown back in your face.
7. You were the one who always got in trouble even when it wasn't your fault.
Without fail every time you and your sibling got in a fight it was always your fault. Even if they hit you first, you were the one who got in trouble. Sometimes you weren't even part of the fight and you were the one who got yelled at. My personal favorite is when you got blamed when a chore didn't get done or something broke.
8. You have to set a good example for your younger siblings.
This was the ultimate guilt line you heard from your parents. Instead of yelling at you your parents would make a casual mention of how you were setting a bad example for your younger siblings. Somehow it always worked. You felt guilty because you didn't want to be responsible for corrupting your younger siblings.
9. You got to be the boss.
This is the literal best part of being the oldest sibling. You got to boss your siblings around and tell them they had to listen to you because you were the oldest. It was always the best when your parents left you in charge. You could choose what you guys did and what you ate. These were the best days of your life.
