As the first of the bunch, you have been through every possible emotion over the years, including( but not limited t)o wanting to strangle your annoying younger siblings (with love of course) and wanting to crush them in a hug because you realize they’re now all adults. They won’t ever understand what it’s like being the eldest, but aren’t you glad you’re not the only one in the entire world who went through the things on this list? Tag your younger siblings to let them know what it was like growing up in your shoes!
Your parents were strict with you growing up but not so much with your siblings
Probably the most frustrating thing about being eldest is that you get to watch your parents become lenient to your younger siblings over time. You had a strict bedtime back then, but now your siblings can stay up until midnight on their phones, which, by the way, they got when they were 12. You got your own phone when you were halfway through high school, and it certainly wasn’t an iPhone!
There’s the sweet window of time you made your younger siblings act like your minions
You ordered them to get you a glass of water even though it was perfectly in your capacity to do it yourself, you made them clean the house, you secretly passed over your own chores, you made them do funny things mostly because you can and because you knew that in a few years those little faces won’t be so gullible anymore.
You almost always get the blame for everything
If your younger sibling does something wrong, you get the blame because “you’re older” and “you’re supposed to know better” and you should “be there to guide them.” But even though it might be a frustrating, (think ‘I’ll-wring-your-neck-the-next-time-I-see-you’ kind of feeling) in the long run, it has taught you to own up to your mistakes. Yes, you are the older person, and yes you know better.
Which is why you’re expected to be responsible and also to set a good example
Everything single thing you do, your siblings are most likely going to copy it even subconsciously – your style, your music preference, the way you talk back to your parents. Your siblings look up to you; you’re a large part of their influence so set a good example. Otherwise, everything will come back to bite you in your bottom one day.
You catch your siblings wearing your clothes without your permission
And they have the gall to get angry once you confront them! It’s either you learned to share your clothes and items with them or you learned to hide your things where they can’t find it. You would gladly give up an arm or a leg to save your siblings, but all hell will break loose if you catch them using your things without permission.
You sometimes wish you had an older sibling
Being the eldest gets exhausting at times. You’re the first to experience everything, the test-run kid, you’ve got no one to tell you how to navigate the world of pre-teens and pre-adults. You’re always expected to be the independent one, but what if you want to be the laid-back sibling for once? Where’s an ate or a kuya when you need them?
Pro: You get first dibs on almost everything!
It’s not all bad. As the recognized leader of the pack (if your siblings respect you enough), you get first dibs on everything. You get the first to choose what you want from the balikbayan boxes or from your mom and dad’s pasalubong. Being the eldest also means all your clothes and items are never hand-me-downs!
You learn to be responsible at a young age
Being the eldest sibling is like learning how to be a parent at a very young age; you’re always expected to look out after your little brothers and sisters, and this turns you into a mature and independent person. As an adult with a stable job, you have the initiative to help your parents and provide for your siblings including sharing for tuition fees and allowances. Growing up the eldest was your very early training for important life skills that your other siblings might not have the opportunity to experience.
At the end of the day, no matter how annoyed you get, you’re still family and for Filipinos, family is everything. And being the eldest? It’s a privilege.
Do you agree with this list? Tag your siblings in the comments below!
