We all know how it goes with having multiple siblings. The oldest tends to do their own thing, the middle child struggles to get the attention they used to be so accustomed to having, and the youngest is now the baby of the family. But being the oldest actually has quite a few perks, as I speak from experience.
1. You get automatic best friends the day your siblings are born.
Sure, you fight, but what siblings don't? You are their first friends, and typically their only friends until they're old enough to socialize in school. You pave so many paths for them you don't even realize, and in ways you help raise them. To them, you are one of the coolest people they know, and of course they're gonna want to be around you because of this.
2. You learn responsibility.
Another pain we are all aware of as the older child, you get stuck with babysitter duty maybe more than you'd like. It's your parents bribing you with money or food, so they can get a night out while you take the night in. It also may be because you get out of bed before anyone else, and your siblings need breakfast made. Sometimes it's as simple as they need someone there and you're the one they rely on most. They appreciate us, and we never expect a thank you.
3. You set the path for house rules.
If you play this part right, you get to set the rules in the house for your younger siblings. Most parents base rules off of experience from either themselves, or you, the older kid. Everything you do will set how things are done in the house for the majority of the rest of the time everyone lives at home. So basically, you're the leader of how things get done. Don't abuse that power ;)
4. No hand-me downs.
Obviously, there is nothing to hand-me down for you, you're the oldest. You make the hand-me downs, while you get to sit back and watch your siblings wear that god-awful sweater from fourth grade you remember being tortured into wearing forever ago.
5. You get to show your siblings the coolest stuff from "back when..."
We all do it. It's an "Oh, you've never seen Good Burger? Sit down, you're about to watch the BEST movie." Things were good back when you were a kid, so duh we want to pass it on. It's us who teach them the ritual of Saturday morning cartoons and cereal, getting up as early as possible on Christmas, and hiding behind the door in the hallway closet to jump out and scare our other family members. We won't admit it, but it's these moments we love the most.
