Being an older sister myself, I've had my fair share of experiences with having a younger sibling to compete against. Oftentimes, I find myself complaining how my younger sibling gets more attention or opportunity to escape trouble than me, but the same reason applies: responsibility. It's understandable that I'm held to a higher standard, but it does feel sometimes like it's impossible to get anything out of being the elder child. For those days that any other older sibling feels that way, these are just 11 of the many reasons why you'll be glad to have a younger brother or sister.
1. Having someone to bug when you're bored
I don't know about you, but when my phone dies or isn't interesting at the moment, I immediately resort to bugging my brother. He's also always on his phone, so just simply snatching it out of his hands or distracting him is the most entertainment I'll have until I get bored once again.
2. Being the one your sibling is compared to
Whenever I spend the whole day working on all of the homework I'm assigned over the weekend, I usually stay away from my phone unless necessary. My brother doesn't have that much work, so he's the opposite of me. Because of that, I'm used as a standard of comparison for my brother whenever my parents tell him that he spends too much time in front of a screen.
3. Being seen as a golden child when the other one messes up
A bad grade here and there isn't the end of the world in the long run, but in that moment that your parents find out, it's a huge problem. So when your sibling gets a bad grade or forgets to do his or her homework, you're considered perfect for the next day. That gives you a whole 24 hours to bask in the glory of being in the spotlight.
4. You can turn your sibling into a mini version of you.
It's kind of funny in a way because you're such a big influence on him or her. My brother especially takes after the way I speak. I'll never get to the point during a story, and I happen to be extremely sarcastic; ever since I'd started those habits, my brother has strangely been sounding like me. If you think about it, you can use this to your advantage by pretending to have bad habits just so your sibling has them, too.
5. Giving your sister or brother advice
I suddenly feel like an all-knowing being when my brother asks me for advice or help with homework. It takes time away from my day, but it makes me so happy when he finally understands a concept in school that he's been stuck with. As an older sibling who experiences everything from school to friends first, it's really great to share my library of knowledge with someone who needs it.
6. Having less rules to follow than your sibling
At the rate that I'm going, I never sleep, meaning my brother doesn't want to sleep either. He wants all of the opportunities that I get, because I'm more responsible, but he's still too young. And that's just one example of a freedom that I have which he doesn't have.
7. Being your sibling's role model
Even the smallest of your habits can be seen with your sibling. He or she wants to be just like you, and it motivates you to be a better person. Combining this with the fact that he or she asks for advice, you really feel that you're doing a great job where you are in life. You feel accomplished just because your sibling wants to be like you.
8. Recommending your favorite things to him or her
From music to movies, your favorites can also become your brother or sister's favorites. Every time my favorite movie comes on, my brother likes to watch it along with me, and he asks questions along the way. Some might find it irritating to have someone constantly talk during his or her favorite movie, but I think it's nice to see my sibling take an interest in what I enjoy.
9. Feeling smart when he or she learns a simplified version of what you're learning
Biology is my favorite science field, so whenever my brother asks a question like: "Did you know that chloroplasts are only found in plant cells?" I feel the urge to spit out random facts about chlorophyll, converting sunlight into a usable form of energy and a lot of other stuff.
10. You're involved in decisions with your parents when your sibling isn't.
From figuring out what's for dinner to where the next vacation will be, you're allowed to have a say when your younger sibling isn't. So you get to enjoy outcome while your sibling has to just go along with whatever you decide.
11. You're never lonely.
There are days when you just need to be around other people, so your brother or sister is the perfect person to be around. Just talking to my brother on those kinds of days makes me feel happier. He can annoy me a lot of the time, but it's genuinely nice to have him around.
