Growing up with siblings can be tough at times, especially when older siblings are burdened with being responsible for setting good examples for little brothers and sisters. Along with this, birth hierarchy comes things that only older siblings will understand.
1. The minute you are deemed responsible enough, you become a free babysitter
Once you reach the late tween/early teen years, you are responsible for your younger siblings’ well-being for a few hours while your parents go out. From the minute they walk out the door, anything that goes wrong can and will be blamed on your lack of responsibility.
2. Every aspect of your character is up for grabs
Whether it be your clothes, makeup, or taste in music, younger siblings will reach a point where they want to be just like you. Everything you buy becomes duplicated at home until it is hard to tell who had it first. And if you complain? Mom just tells you to be flattered.
3. You break in your parents for them
Every time you get caught doing something bad, it’s the first time your parents have to deal with a situation like that, and therefore the punishments are harsher. Once your sibling does something similar, your parents are experienced veterans and more laid back.
4. When they invade your personal space
After you come home from a long day at school/work and want to crash in your bed with Netflix/your phone/your pillow, it’s prime time for siblings to run into your room, jump on your bed, and expect bonding time.
5. Technology is a given for them
For the majority of older siblings, we received technology luxuries such as smart phones as high school upperclassmen, and laptops for graduation presents. Younger siblings often receive gadgets at a much earlier age, due to parents wanting to keep things equal among their children and the increased accessibility to technology.
6. Dealing with them trying to be cool by association
Whether they see you in the school hallways and say “hi” in order to show off that they have an older friend or try to talk to your friends when they’re at your house, younger siblings have a history of trying to get in with their older siblings’ crowd in order to better their reputation and seem cooler to their friends.
Even though younger siblings can have their annoying moments, at the end of the day it’s nice to have someone who will always be there to ask you for advice, gossip about family to, and think you’re cool. Giving them gems of wisdom you’ve acquired over the years can be rewarding when they decide to listen, and it’s great having a built-in friend to play with and boss around.
