As the oldest of three girls , I have grown up sharing everything that I own, getting mistaken for my sisters (and my mom) and developing a maternal instinct of my own to protect my younger sisters at all times. Screaming, crying, hair-pulling, inside jokes and seeing each other at our worst is (still) nothing out of the ordinary. To all the girls who grew up with nothing but sisters, this one's for you.
1. Something is always missing from your closet.
Shirts, dresses, jeans, shoes, purses, bathing suits—you name it. Every time you walk into your closet, something that you're looking for isn't there. This is just one of the rules of living with several other females: all closets are fair game. We're all guilty of it. We've also all perfected making the closet look untouched to maintain our innocence. If one of your sisters asks if you've seen [said missing article of clothing], you deny it completely. That is, of course, until you Instagram a picture of yourself wearing [said missing article of clothing], and she finds out immediately.
2. You have more to wear than you would ever know what to do with.
Contrary to constantly missing articles of clothing of your own, you always have other closets to look in. If you're lucky to have two sisters and a mom who are more fashionable than you (like I do), you always have three additional closets to search through for any occasion. It doesn't hurt that we all wear around the same sizes, too. Four. Closets.
3. You'll always get mistaken for each other.
Whether it's preschool or high school, it's a constant struggle. You frequently get called one of your sister's names or are told how much you look like one another. There's also always some kind of competition to distinguish yourself from your sisters so that you stand out and don't get mistaken for another, whether it be cutting or dying your hair or getting a new wardrobe (which you will inevitably share anyway). At the end of the day, though, you still look like each other, and it's best to just accept the inevitable and appreciate the good looks of your sisters.
4. You always have a personal stylist.
There will always be someone that can do your hair, makeup or pick out an outfit for you. As ashamed as I am to say that I am a college sophomore and don't know how to curl my own hair, it's refreshing that my younger sisters can help me look hip n' trendy every time I'm home.
5. You're used to being around emotional, screaming, crying girls.
If you've grown up with sisters, you're more than prepared to deal with the emotional whirlwind of spending your freshman year in an all-girls' dorm. Throughout the 19 years of my life, I've experienced my fair share of Kardashian-esque meltdowns and temper tantrums, many of which have come from me. Still, at the end of the day, you love each other anyway.
6. You're extremely involved in the lives of your family members.
As the oldest sister, I've developed a maternal instinct of my own from being such a "second mom" to my sisters. This is both a blessing and a curse for all involved; I am probably too involved in the daily aspects of my sisters' lives. I'm constantly asking about their grades, schoolwork, extracurriculars, sleeping habits, eating habits (not kidding), friends, boys, etc. They frequently tell me to "stop acting like a mom" and to mind my own business, but they're secretly always thankful when they actually let me help them.
7. You're protective.
No matter how much my sisters and I may argue, if anyone else tries to pick a fight with them, it's game over. Girls are catty, especially in high school, and hearing about anyone at school being rude to your sisters literally makes your skin crawl. That's just the older sister instinct: you can pick on each other all you want, but at the end of the day, no one is ever allowed to mess with your sisters.
8. You always have someone to send your grossest Snapchats to.
Your sisters see you at your absolute worst: first thing in the morning, when you haven't showered in a couple days, when you're wearing pajamas that you've had since you were 11, you name it. This makes it acceptable to Snapchat them at any day or time, even when you're looking your worst. And screenshots are always a necessity. It's refreshing to have someone that appreciates your beauty even in your most natural state (LOL).
9. You can act however you want with no judgment passed.
Your sisters definitely see the most devious side of you. You scream, cry, eat gallons of ice cream (literally) and act in ways that you sometimes aren't proud of when you're around them. Yet, they still love you, and think you're the coolest thing ever, regardless. They accept your gross habits and weird obsessions and still choose to hang out with you anyway. Even after you get in a crying fight over food.
10. You have lifelong best friends.
No matter the age difference, personality types, interests or talents, your sisters are guaranteed to be your best friends for life. You've been through decades of ups and downs, yet you still choose to spend most of your time with them anyway. You have inside jokes that no one else could ever even attempt to understand, and to you, they're the funniest thing in the world.
Although I'm the oldest of three girls, I think my sisters teach me more than I teach them. Every day is a learning experience, and every day I am more thankful for the two sisters that I've had the privilege of growing up with.
