There are some aspects of life that we cannot change. Being born first is one of them. As the first born child, there are things that happen to us that only we understand.
1. You are automatically the “Guinea Pig”
Since you’re the oldest, you have to go through everything first and most of the time your parents are just as lost as you are. Helping with projects, getting your driver’s license, and going off to college. By the time your siblings go through these things in life, your parents are almost pros and you’ll be there to help your siblings.
2. You can get away with nothing
You want to stay out late with your friends? I don’t think so. The moment the clock hits curfew, your butt better be home. However, when your younger brother or sister waltzes through the front door an hour past curfew, they don’t even get a second look from your parents. Or the best one. My younger brother like to smack himself and then scream. My mom would pop her head around the corner and yell at me for hitting him and being mean to him for no reason. It was very unfair.
3. At the same time, you get away with everything
As the oldest sibling, there are things that we get away with though. It is an awful thing to admit, but the older siblings wrote the book on lying to their parents. We know what to say and how to say it when we need to. I’m not saying I’m proud of this, but it’s true. However, the moment our parents catch on, the younger siblings are screwed and we go back to not getting away with too much again.
4. Parents expect more from you
This is almost the worst one because you have certain expectations placed on you as the oldest child. Set a good example for you brother or sister. That is the biggest expectation of them all. Don’t act like you shouldn’t. Don’t say words that you shouldn’t say. Don’t go places or hang out with people you shouldn’t. I’ve heard several of these phrases from my parents because my brother apparently watches my every move and I set the example. Ultimately, you just can’t screw up.
5. No one mess's with your siblings except for you
This one is the most important. I’m not going to lie. I was probably a really mean sister to my brother when we were growing up. We fought all the time and he probably still has scars from when I would scratch him. Like I said, I was not the best sister. But, that does not mean that I would not go crazy on anyone who would try to be rude or disrespectful to him. He is my brother and that means that no one else can treat him the way that I do. It is just unacceptable.
I hope that these facts about being the oldest child bring back some memories and flashbacks of growing up with siblings. It comes with its negative parts, but the pros really do far outweigh the cons and I wouldn’t trade being an older sister to a great brother for anything.
