Of course being the oldest has its perks, I basically set the fashion trends for my siblings throughout their adolescent years with my hand-me-downs, while fortunately never having to deal with passed down clothes myself. Since I was the first born I was gifted with my own room, which my siblings then took over the second I left for college, as seen by various Snapchats of them laying in my bed. Being the first child born into the Alexander clan comes with its benefits, but I can’t help but envy my younger siblings at times for not being the eldest.
The first born is the guinea pig of the family. So to my younger siblings: you’re welcome. Parents construct their rules around the first borns upbringing. The oldest child makes the footprints in which the other siblings follow. This fact became particularly evident during the college searching process, for neither myself nor my parents had any idea what we were doing. By the time my younger siblings are at that point in their lives, my parents will be pros and hopefully it will relieve them of some stress that accompanies this period in their lives, which I am extremely envious of.
You are never the favorite. Except maybe right before you leave for college then everybody loves you. But usually it’s the youngest sibling that collects the majority of the love from the parents because they are the “baby” of the family. Sorry mom, she is 12, she is no longer a baby. Everyone sympathizes with the middle child because they have the reputation of being the difficult one due to a cry for attention, or they are constantly feeling left out between the oldest and the youngest. Leaving the oldest child to fend for themselves in the competition of winning parents attention.
Everything is your fault. No if, and’s or but’s about it. You are the oldest therefore you have this unspoken responsibility to take the blame for your younger siblings, which you can then use against them in the future. If you tell them to “shut up” because they are bothering you, you best believe that you are about to get in trouble for being mean. As the first born child, being scolded by the parents is usually followed by the “you need to set a good example for your siblings” talk. You know you have received this lecture at least once (but more likely close to a couple of hundred times).
You are officially the family tutor. You may have taken Geometry seven years ago, but you are somehow expected to remember everything you learned and more so you can assist your younger siblings with their homework. Being the oldest child, I never had such resources and had to turn to the internet or call a friend on their home phone for help. Being your younger siblings official tutor allows for you to slightly relive high school through their shoes, making sure you help them avoid their awkward stage as much as you can, but we all know the awkward stage is nearly impossible to escape.
Stricter rules. I’m sorry but how is it fair that I had to wait until my sophomore year of high school to get an iPhone, but for my younger siblings received one in middle school? When you are the oldest child you will find out that parents tend to loosen up as they move down the ladder of children. So when your younger siblings high school career is more “lit” than yours, make sure they know they have you to thank and that they don't take that later curfew for granted.
Chores. Chores. And more chores. The oldest sibling tends to be the Cinderella of the children. Once you are assigned a chore it is yours for life, I would know since I mistakenly begged to learn how to use the washing machine in the fifth grade. There is always some excuse as to why the youngest in the family isn’t capable of doing chores. So unfortunately, you are stuck doing the laundry until you are out of the house and it is now the next siblings problem.
Grouped into “sibling activities”. What other nine year old doesn’t love matching with their two year old sister!? I swear my mother wished she had triplets, sorry to disappoint mom.
The younger siblings tend to form a cult. Since my younger siblings were closer in age, I was always the awkward third wheel. No, I didn’t really want to play Barbie’s at the age of thirteen, but if it would entertain me for more than thirty minutes than I was in.
Technology was nothing it is today. Since technology has improved over the past few years, my younger siblings lucked out and now all of their baby pictures are digitally recorded. I got a cute picture on my first birthday with frosting smeared across my face, while my sisters get a video documentary leading up to their first bite. Lucky for me, technology advanced just in time to document my awkward stage.
I may envy my younger sisters at times, but I am forever grateful for the days my mom came home with each of them from the hospital. Being an older sister is a role I am blessed to play and hope that my sisters look up to me and that I am making them proud each day. Now that I’m off at college, it's time for them to take on the responsibilities of the eldest child. Good luck!
