Those of us who have grown up with younger siblings tend to lament our childhood. It’s always a hard road learning to share everything you have ever owned with another person, especially if for those with small age gaps between their siblings. However, though older siblings do tend to receive the shorter end of the stick, and even though they hate that they’re the ones to blame when the others get into trouble-- there are some phrases that will forever be shared by the oldest sibling in every family.
1. "The only one who can pick on you is me."
And it’s true. The oldest sibling will be the one to coordinate your own personal roast session as often as they see fit. But if someone else so much as sneezes in the wrong direction, they’ll be the ones to put on their war gear in thirty seconds flat. At the end of the day, they have your back, and no one else is going to wrong you.
2. “They (our parents) never let me do that when I was your age.”
The oldest sibling has historically had to fight tooth and nail for what the younger ones are breezing through today. A cell phone at 11 years old? They weren’t allowed one until they were fourteen. An 11 o’ clock curfew? Guaranteed they started out with an 8 o’ clock at your age. This also, coincidentally, explains the bitterness that exists in many of the oldest siblings out there.
3. “I’ll only babysit if you pay me.”
Why would parents cough up the money for a babysitter when genetics and timing gave them a free one? The oldest sibling will always insist that they deserve some form of monetary benefit, that they have plans going on and babysitting will kill their social life. But they’ll most likely be the ones to do it for free, because in reality they didn’t have any plans anyways.
4. “I’ll give you $20 to do the dishes.”
Or to take out the trash. Throw something in the trash. Clean their room. Do the laundry. Any chore you can think of, the oldest sibling would rather throw money at their younger counterparts than actually get up and do something. However, be warned that the amount of money offered will definitely vary based on their pay period.
5. “When are you going to make me your MCM/WCW?”
Just like everyone else, your older sibling needs some love too. They’re sick of seeing that loser you’re crushing on being posted all over your social media every week. Why don’t you use their selfie and add some heart emojis in the caption for a change? After all, they gave you $20 to do the dishes.
6. “You owe me.”
It doesn’t matter what it is. Helping you with homework? Driving you to soccer practice? Giving you the other half of their sandwich when they weren’t going to eat it anyways? Closed the door to your room on the way out? You owe them. What you owe them, however, will probably never be redeemed. Eldest siblings don’t work that way. They want you to be in their debt, but they’ll still offer you money to take the trash out next week. But just remember-- you owe them.
In the end, being the oldest sibling is a blessing in disguise. They’ll look out for their own, even if the complain the entire time. They’re there for you, and won’t ever let you forget it.
