Being the oldest of four kids isn't always easy. You get perks like getting to drive first, stay out later, and have your own room...but you also have more responsibilities- like babysitting your younger siblings, having more chores, and setting a great example. You also get blamed for your younger siblings' behavior sometimes.
As the oldest, I was the guinea pig for my parents. Meaning anytime I needed discipline, rules, or a curfew, my parents didn't have another kid to base their parenting off of to help set those limits. Being the first, I had to deal with early curfews, flip phones, and more discipline; whereas, my two little sisters and baby brother will probably not have those issues since my parents know what worked and what didn't with me. Anyone else who is the oldest child can probably relate to this whole deal of seeing your siblings grow up seemingly easier than you did. For example, I had a flip phone until I was almost 17. My 12 year old sister got an iPhone for her first phone. It seems unfair, but if you think about it from a parent's perspective, it's a lot easier for them. It's cheaper since the phone was already paid for (it was mine previously), and it has more tracking capabilities to make sure my sister is where she's supposed to be. We all know that all our parents want is for us to be safe, and tracking her keeps her safe. So giving her an iPhone right off the bat makes sense, but those of us who didn't have that luxury can't help but feel a little salty. Am I right?
Also being the oldest, we have to set the best example possible. We are the first ones our little siblings look up to and if they're looking up to someone who comes home late, disrespects Mom and Dad, and doesn't do their chores at home. That's probably part of why we get disciplined a little more, too. Our parents want to make sure we give our little siblings an awesome role model, and that's a lot of pressure on us. Anytime we get in trouble, our siblings get a lesson on how not to act. It's a hard thing to deal with as the oldest child. No child is perfect, and having to be a "perfect" role model is not always easy when you're a kid trying to figure out who you are and what you're doing with your life.
Being an example can also mean being blamed for your little siblings' behavior when they act out. For example, your siblings get into a fight and act like they don't care about punishment. Mom turns to the oldest kid and says, "Hmm. Where do you think they learned THAT from?" (And you're never sure whether to laugh and take it as a joke or run to your room and hide because she's actually angry.) It's a vicious cycle, being the oldest. A cycle of getting in trouble, being made an example, being a better example afterward, then kids getting in trouble and you being blamed.
Anyone who is also the oldest child in their family knows these struggles and can probably relate. While there are definitely perks to being the oldest, the reality is that it's not always sunshine and rainbows.
