Being an older sister to both my siblings would potentially mean that they look up to me as a role model and respect me as their older sister. Well, isn’t that what all the first-born kids thought it would be like? Being the oldest child of my family means that mom and dad are always on your side no matter what the circumstance may be and your opinion is always the one that matters in the family....after your parents, of course.
With my sister only two years younger than me, she thinks that she is the most important one of the family and mom and dad should obey her demands — rather than it being the other way around. Since she is the middle child, she thinks that everything will and should be handed to her, a.k.a. follow in my footsteps and not have to do anything on her own. I got a car, so she wants one (too bad you didn’t get one), I go to the University of Arizona, so she has to go there too (OK you got what you wanted here), I am in a sorority, so she has to be in one (of course the same one as me), etc. My sister’s way of thinking is that since I am the oldest, I am my mother’s favorite child while my brother, who is the youngest, is my father’s favorite child. Therefore that just leaves her in the middle and all by herself. In some situations that may be the case, but face it: the middle child is just “the middle child.” Growing up as the oldest means that I am the child who has to go through all kinds of experiences by myself, which ultimately leaves a set path for both my brother and sister to follow. I guess what I am trying to say is that my sister and brother have it made. I am the guinea pig of every situation, the first person to go through it before my sister and brother have to.
Everyone has probably experienced getting yelled at by your parents to the point of feeling guilty if you don’t do what he or she asked. Well, you firstborns probably know what I am talking about, because that only happens to us. No matter what, your parents will hear about what is going on between you, your sister and brother, because there is always that one tattle-teller. And then we all know what happens after that: the first-born gets blamed and everything they own becomes taken away. Did you actually do anything besides saying no to letting your sister borrow a shirt? Chances are you said, "No you can’t use that," and the story got twisted by the time it was relayed to one of your parents. She cries and tells your parents how mean you were to her and then you ultimately get tricked into letting her borrow the shirt. But your agreeing to let her wear the shirt was all triggered by being threatened with the famous, “Let her borrow it or I am taking your phone away,” line. However, if it were the other way around, there would be absolutely no need for a discussion and if my sister did not want me to wear one of her shirts, the answer was no and remained no.
My brother is the lucky one out of us three kids. My father loves him more than anything in the world because he is the only boy out of the children and he is the youngest. People think that the oldest child gets whatever they want, whenever they want (OK maybe sometimes); but with my brother being the youngest, he is the baby of the family and all situations are different when it comes to him. He is the baby that my parents do not want to grow up because, soon enough, my parents will have an empty nest. My brother has his fake cry down perfectly, so once he begins to act my parents will give in immediately. Ha! All us eldest children wish it were that way with us. Me, I have to explain myself and bug my parents for days when I want them to let me do something. I don’t get the easy way out by crying to get what I want.
Your parents usually understand that you being the oldest child means you are more mature, understanding, and easier to talk to. Sure, that can be the case when you decide to make sense with your decision-making and not blame me, your first-born child, for everything. Although it is more of a process to get your parents to understand something and give in, they know in the back of your head that you are the oldest. I know that my parents do not show it much, but they do have common sense when it comes to laying down the line between my sister, brother, and me. For example, my sister and I now attend the same University. I am in an apartment as a junior and I also have my car at school with me because I have an internship that is off campus. My sister, on the other hand, is a freshman in the dorms, and sees the lifestyle that I have now. Sure she is jealous, because who wants to be in the dorms? However, she thinks that she is getting her own car next year and living in the newsiest apartment complex on campus. What she does not understand is that there are now two of us enrolled at the same school, which happens to be out of state. Money doesn’t grow on trees, hun. My dad handled this situation by agreeing with her about everything she said and then coming to talk to me about it. Since I have been here for three years now, I know a lot about living situations and school related things. My point here is that my sister thinks that it is all about her since she is now a college student and is "on her own." The fact that my dad comes back to me to talk about the situation shows that I am the older sister and she is dreaming about this luxury lifestyle that she plans to live next year.
Being the oldest you have to make your own decisions, because your parents are not going to want to hear your thoughts about everything possible, which leads into complaining about something. They don’t want to be that person that has to help you make that adult decision. They want you to do it on your own. Sure, it’s a terrifying thing because that means you are becoming an adult in the real world, but succeeding at it and telling yourself that you did it by yourself is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
The best part about being the oldest is that your parents are proud of you. Sure they may not tell you or show you very often, but they are. You are the oldest one going through college and situations before your siblings are, and you are setting an example for them. You are showing your parents that you are growing up, confident, can deal with things on your own, and most importantly, succeeding in your field of education.
Your parents are going to give you a hard time no matter what day it is. They do it because they believe in you and know you can succeed with whatever you put your mind to! You are the oldest child that has a good head on your shoulders, and you have managed to come this far by being the guinea pig of the family.
Being the oldest growing up sucks, but it definitely has its perks!
