The Struggles of Being the Eldest Sibling
To people who are not the eldest sibling, you probably think we had things pretty good, huh? When in actual fact, the youngest had it best – and they didn’t even know it! Let me tell you the struggles of being the eldest sibling and why we are so bitter about it…
You were spoilt until…
The next sibling came along. Suddenly, you were old news and the newest addition to the family was the brand new shiny toy. You were used to being special and getting everything you want and it came as quite a shock to realise the run didn’t revolve around you 24/7.
You were the test child…
Essentially a crash test dummy who was sent out into the world on some kind of ‘trial and error’ journey by your parents. Whatever mistakes you made, they simply noted it down and made sure the next sibling wouldn’t make the same stupid mistake again.
They stayed up later than you did…
Often a recipe for arguments was bringing up how, “When I was their age I went to bed way earlier!” But it was entirely true. Staying up until 9pm at the age of six would’ve been a real treat for you – but it was daily routine for them.
You were the responsible one…
Your childhood didn’t last as long as your other siblings’ did because you were expected to be a mature adult by the age of 14 so you could babysit your brothers and sisters. And now, your younger siblings might be well into their late teens are still act like they popped out the womb a couple years ago.
They could get away with murder…
The more siblings you had, the less of a crap your parents started to give. You were expected to be the pinnacle of well behaved children, whilst your youngest sibling might as well have been spawn from Satan himself. Essentially a little demon child.
You were the tutor…
By the age of 12, you were essentially a teaching assistant to your younger siblings. They looked up to you for inspiration and knowledge and sometimes you couldn’t work out why they all liked you so much.
And even though they annoyed the crap out of you and you wished at times they could be forced back into the womb or you could smother them in their sleep, they are your siblings – mini you’s. And honestly, you couldn’t love them more.
