Being the Oldest Sibling | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

Being the Oldest Sibling

Being born first may have some disadvantages after all.

56
Being the Oldest Sibling
Briana VonderLinden

Being born first seems pretty cool, right? Well, that isn't always the case. Now, I'm not saying that being the oldest is the most terrible thing in the world, because it's not. It's actually awesome. I mean think about it you are the king/queen out of your siblings. Anything you do or say, they will listen to. The negative side towards being the oldest is also just that. The younger ones look up to you, so anything you do could be held against you. So here are somethings that the eldest child can relate too..

1. Younger siblings look up to you.

I'm not saying this is bad, but it has a bad side to it. Being the oldest myself, I set an example for all my siblings. So, if I do something wrong and they look up to me, then they might take my actions on for their own. Everything the oldest does reflects on what the youngest is going to do, so you have to be cautious at all times. This is a good thing, though, because if you do good in anything and everything, then the younger ones do good in anything and everything, which makes you feel good about yourself.

2. Needing to mature quicker than usual.

With being the oldest comes responsibilities, and sometimes those responsibilities come faster than most. Since you are the oldest, your parents want much more from you. So, stepping up your game at the age of 15 isn't such a surprise. Getting your first job so you can start supporting yourself and saving up for college, sometimes helping out with the younger ones in the house, you start to mature much quicker than your younger siblings would at your age. It is also good for you in the long run, though.

3. You might be the test child.

You are the "experiment" child. Any rule your parents have for you might not be the same for the younger ones when they become your age. Now, your parents might not believe it, but it is true. The younger siblings can change the rules in an instance, but if you tried that it was a "No, the rules are the rules."

4. Any electronics you got, they got sooner.

When I was in fifth grade I was handed my first cell phone. You know what that meant? It meant that my sister got a phone as well, she was in the third grade. Even though we were both left at home alone, and that was the reason we both got a phone, she still got one at a younger age than me. It has happened all my life, I got an iPod touch, that same year my sister would as well. Being the oldest meant that whatever you had, the youngest got as well.

5. You are their protector.

At the end of it all though, you need to look after them and make sure they do better than you did. You make sure they don't get hurt, and they have someone to go to during rough times, since you didn't really have that. Even though they can get away with anything, it is your job to be the bigger person and teach them the ropes.

When you think about it being the oldest isn't so bad after all. They get all your hand-me-downs. So, anything you get is usually new. And you are able to do older kid things before them. In reality, being the oldest can be sweet.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

1907
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

448457
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21053
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44171
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments