"Are these all of your sisters?"
"How do you all fit in one car?"
"Wait, all of the girls share a bathroom?"
These are just a few of many questions when people learn about my family. I am lucky enough to be the oldest of 6 kids. There's me, Selena, 17, Maddie, 16, Lexi,13, Ellie, 13, and the only boy, Jace, at the age of 9 years old.
Pictured left to right is Lexi, Maddie, Me, Jace, Ellie, Dad, Mom and Selena
For as long as I have lived, I don't remember not being a big sister. Maddie was born when I was two, and one of my earliest memories was when I was five and Ellie was born. It has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, but has come with many struggles along the way.
With being a big sister, comes a lot, and I mean a lot, of responsibility, that people don't necessarily notice. One being that as an older sibling, you have to watch everything you say or do around the young ones because they will pick up on it and they will repeat it in the near future (whether they know what it means or not).
Example:
The other day I was just walking past my brother playing Xbox in our bonus room and I hear "Wow that was so majestic!" Now, this wouldn't be weird if he wasn't referring to his race car slamming into the wall, or if he wasn't a 9-year-old boy.
There have been plenty of instances where one of my sisters, or Jace, has used a word/phrase I've said in completely wrong context. So before I say or do anything, I always think to myself, "Do I want to have to explain this to them?"
At the same time, being a big sister gives you a lot of teaching opportunities. Now, I realize that is my parents' job, but there are some lessons that need to be taught by a sibling. These lessons can range to basically anything, such as:
What the word the boy at school called his friend today means, and why we don't use it.
How to get in less trouble from Mom and Dad than you usually would for doing something reckless.
Usually, these lessons teach me something as well. To hear their insight of the world, and what's going on in their heads, amazes me. Every one of them is so incredibly different. I learn something new from them every day.
One of the struggles of being the oldest, is not being a "mini Mom" as my mother likes to call it. Being older and "wiser" makes a person feel obligated to share all of their knowledge. On this one, I plead guilty. I find myself having to remember that I don't know everything, and most of the time they aren't going to want to listen to my advice.
Of course, me telling them what to do, or being bossy, is my way of saying "I love you." I only want to make their lives easier by helping. It just so happens that the result of my overbearing attitude does the opposite; it definitely gives me a deeper appreciation for my parents.
The most difficult thing as a big sister, though, will be leaving them. As soon as the next few days, I will be off to college, far enough away to where I won't be able to visit much. This has been very heavy on my heart the past few weeks. I don't want to live somewhere where they aren't, but sadly, I have to. I know they will miss me, but there are still five of them (with friends over all of the time), and the house won't be very different.
To my sisters and brother, I love you so much. I would do absolutely anything for you (except clean up your room). I hope you know that.
To all other oldest siblings out there, savor every moment you get with your annoying little brother or your bratty little sister. We all grow up way too fast.
