1. Grew up being the second parent

To your younger siblings, you will always seem like their parent.

“Did you remember to do your homework?” “Did you fold your laundry?”

Your sister/brother might joke around and if you are like me you might get the casual “Okay MOM” a couple of times.

2. You become the DD for every task

Hey, can you grab milk? Hey, can you pick your sister up from ___? Did you remember to go get ___?

As soon as you get that license you become the person who is the Designated Driver. You get to go do exciting things like bring your brother/sister to her appointments and make sure that we have milk in the refrigerator.

3. Being known as the responsible one

Although you did not know the list yet, you tend to be the one who ended up going to all the PP’s (Parent Parties). You grew up around speaking to people much older than you and were expected to behave in a certain manner. You learned etiquette from a small age and courtesy as well.

4. Your Parents were your role model instead of someone similar to your age

When being little, your younger siblings may have had you to look up to. However, most likely you had your parents to look up to if they were raising you or another guardian figure. This might make you have somehow lead to the characteristic of you having to try and mimic your guardian instead.

5. Getting all the new stuff first

Since you were the lab rat, it also gave a chance to you to get all the new stuff. You did not get the handy-downs, you got the new stuff. The new clothes, the new bed, the new everything. You were the first one to be breathing.

6. Being the first one to break attachment when leaving to college

You are the first one to leave the nest. They will call you repetitively until they know you can not handle it anymore. They no longer can see if you are eating three meals a day, whether you are going to class, and if you are having the eight hours of sleep that no one has in college. Their baby has left and they don’t know what do about it, again, the lab rat.

7. Lastly, the number of goals/ pressures that come along with that

They aspire you to be a Doctor, a Lawyer, a Dentist, a Teacher, etc and for you to get straight A’s. Every family member is counting on you to be the best that you can be for everyone who did not make it before you. Also so that your siblings have someone to aspire to be.

However, they are your family and you wouldn’t be prouder to represent them in any other way.