Being the oldest sibling comes with both negatives and positives. You are the child who has to do everything first and pave the way for the rest of your siblings. It single-handedly falls upon you to determine if teachers look forward to the next child in your family to come through or retire before they meet your younger brother. We oldest siblings try to act like we have it all together, but we usually do not. Here are just a few things the oldest child has to go through.
1. Your parents expect you to babysit as soon as possible.
It's like you turn 10 and your birthday present is to babysit your annoying 8-year-old sister and screaming 4-year-old brother. Thanks, Mom, just what I wanted!
2. You are supposed to act as a role model even though you don't even have your life together.
I get it, my younger siblings look up to me, but I'm only 20. How am I supposed to be a role model to them when I'm still trying to figure out how not to burn macaroni and cheese while in college.
3. You have more baby pictures than the rest of your siblings.
One positive of being the oldest sibling is your parents were obsessed with you as a child. You were the first baby of the family, so naturally they took pictures of everything you did, including but not limited to your first steps, you shoving your face at your first birthday party, your "birthday suit" as you ran around the backyard in the sprinkler and you holding your newborn sibling with a resentful face.
4. You don't have to deal with hand-me-downs.
Another positive of being the oldest child is you do not have to deal with many hand-me-downs. Every now and then your older cousin will bring over a few clothes, but for the most part you get all the brand new trends while your younger brother or sister gets last year's hand-me-downs.
5. You get blamed for everything.
Dishes aren't put away? Your fault. Laundry basket isn't folded? Your fault. The mantel isn't dusted to perfection? Definitely your fault.
6. Your parents take out everything out on you.
You could come home from college for the first time in three months and it would still be your fault that the family room is a mess.
7. You give your younger siblings old tests, projects, etc.
You are known as the "dumb one" of the family because your younger siblings have 4.0's thanks to your old tests and papers saved on the computer.
8. You become a chauffeur.
Your 16th birthday is the best day of your parents' life. Now they can drink a bottle of wine and not have to worry about picking your younger brother up at 11 p.m. They just send you out to do everything, including grocery shopping, sports practices and even vet appointments for your dog.
9. You are bossy.
The one characteristic all oldest siblings have in common. Trust me, we have an opinion on everything. Growing up, you were left in charge while your parents went out on Friday night, aka the best night of the week because you got to boss around your siblings with no one to tell you "stop." You know you're smiling while reminiscing on all the times you put your sister in time out even though all she did was ask you to play Polly Pockets with her.
Us oldest children live a hard life. But according to science, we are supposed to be the smartest, most creative and skinniest! So keep on keeping on, oldest children.
