Being an older sibling can be a challenge, and I’m not just saying that because I am one. You are constantly asked questions like, Can I have…? Can I borrow your…? Will you...?, and Can I…? Chances are that if you have a younger sibling you are no stranger to questions like these. And it is very probable that you’ve heard them more than once, and you will probably continue to hear them. While these questions can sometimes get on your nerves, it is important to keep in mind that your younger sibling(s) looks up to you and asks you these questions from a good place, at least most of the time.

I’m going to ask that you please bare with me as I discuss pros and cons of being an older sibling.

Pros

1. As an older sibling you get to experience everything first, ranging from food to vacations, even your parents, and you will have always been first.

2. You are looked up to as a role model. They want to be like you.

3. You get a free pass to watch cartoons and all things Disney.

4. You get to give tickle attacks, instead of giving them.

5. You can blame things on them, not that it will always work out. Beware!

6. Depending on whether they are close enough in age, you can always tell them anything. They can be your best friend.

7. You get the pleasure of watching them grow up, first knowing them as a little tyke and watching them blossom/bloom (I have way too many flower metaphors) into the person they become.So while there are many pros to being an older sibling, again I should know, there are also some cons that balance it out.

Cons

1. You do everything first, including growing up, while it can be a pro it can also be a con because you have no one to guide you, you have to essentially learn through experience.

2. They look up to you, while it can again be a pro, it can be a con as well because you have to be careful not to set a bad example.

3. If they are significantly younger than you, you may not be able to tell them everything, at least not until they are older.

4. They get more attention because they are the baby and when you’re still young and living at home, it can feel like you're getting no attention at all.

5. You have to always be the responsible one and everything falls on you.

6. You are used for free labor to babysit (at least in my case).

Being an older sibling can sometimes have some downsides, but there are also many upsides. At the end of the day your siblings are in your corner and in most cases growing up in the same household with you, so you have to stick together and have each other’s back. If you don’t your parents will most likely win in their united front against you, as seen in many family-friendly films and TV shows, for instance, “The Parent Trap”, which we all know is totally plausible.

I’m going to leave you all with this little piece of advice, love your siblings, leave them if you have to, but make sure you return to them because there is no stronger bond than sibling-hood, with the exception of a parent and child, but that seems to be hearsay until you have your own children.