Hello there! You probably clicked on this being an older sibling trying to find something easy to relate to, but that's not what you're gonna find here. (Also, I know the older sibling has it rough, too, don't get me wrong.) Look, to all you older siblings who think life is so hard for because everyone just LOVES your little sister, or baby brother or whatever, ACTUALLY CHILL OUT. Here are somethings you didn't know about your younger siblings life. And yes, I feel like I need to make this and yes, I am a younger sibling. First off, yes, younger siblings are probably the most annoying things to you. Ever. But listen here, why do you think they're annoying in the first place. YES! YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S ALL FOR ATTENTION. I know it might seem like I'm on the older sibling's side, but trust me, I'm not. Younger siblings want attention because, well, everyone wants attention. you can't blame them for wanting a basic human nature need. Older siblings, there was a time when YOU were like that, and everyone gave YOU attention. So now y'all gotta stop being such gatekeepers and let your sibling have a life, too. NO BABY PICTURES. AT ALL. Bro, your parents already went through that "baby phase" so they already have the 10000 baby pictures they need. Sure, they have a few here and there of the younger sibling, but not like the older sibling. You're gonna look back at the photo albums and all you're gonna see are pictures of you in a white blanket with flowers. ON LITERALLY EVERY PAGE. And then on the last few pages a baby picture, first day of 4th grade picture, and a graduating picture of your younger sibling. Ok, people are either always looking down on the younger sibling, or having to high of expectations. BRO SIBLINGS ARE JUST RELATED BY BLOOD, THEY AREN'T THE SAME PERSON. If the older sibling was a complete rascal or something, they just expect you to do the same. But it's worse if your older sibling was like, smart or something because they immediately expect you to be just as smart, or smarter. Personally, my sisters a genius, funny, pretty, and everyone loves her. I mean, I do too, just like, I'm not her. My sister's six years older than me, and I'm going to the same school (Kinder-8th) as she did. A lot of the teachers are still the same and LOVED my sister. I mean LOOOOVED her. They're always asking me, "How's your sister?" or telling me, "You're sister was amazing!" and even, "She used to be my favorite." Like, OK, I know my sister's great and but... that's doing too much. So anyways, I've always had to live up to my sister's level, and my parents compare us together all the time. ALLTHEFREAKINGTIME. They always sign me up for everything she did-model UN, robotics, math team, golf... like everything she did. I try it out, have a little fun ig, BUT THEN END UP DOING IT FOR LIKE, THE WHOLE YEAR. And whenever I try to tell my parents "this isn't really my thing," or something simple like that, they always say, "WeLL yOuR sIsTeR LikEd it" or just telling me how my sister is such a good kid or something. CHILL OUT. My whole family are just older siblings. My mom, my dad, my sister (duh), my grandparents, and even all my friends. And if they aren't the older sibling, they don't have siblings like bruh. They're always complaining about the stupid, annoying, clingy things their little siblings are doing, but they never even ask WHY they're doing it. I gave up trying to explain how life is pretty hard for us too, but I always get ganged up on because like I said, EVERYONE IN MY LIFE IS THE OLDER SIBLING. So just fit the stupid stereotypes, be the perfect angel human being, and just LISTEN to what I have to say. It's not that hard. Younger siblings do it more than you think. Ok, this is gonna sound stupid, but younger siblings always have at least, 20 secrets y'all don't know about. They WOULD tell others, but are afraid of people judging them assuming things about them, something people have done their whole life. Another reason why the younger sibling is most like to become a delinquent, commit crimes, and even s**cide. Look it up if you don't believe me. Older sibling probably complain more than younger siblings do. Younger siblings tend to have thicker skin, mostly because YOU ALL KEEP TEASING, MAKING FUN OF, NOT LETTING THEM SPEAK, AND LIKE, FIGHTING WITH YOUR YOUNGER SIBLING OR SOMETHING. That wouldn't happen if you older siblings would just shut up for once and let them say something. If your friend who's a younger sibling just keeps yapping all day, just let them yap. You don't know how good it feels just to vent about something that probably happened, like, a month ago because they've been keeping it in for so long. Don't be a stick in the mud and ruin your relationship. Younger siblings don't trust people very easily, but when they do, they are the most loyal golden retrievers ever. Don't abuse that. -- continued on next
continued from next -- Younger siblings are more social only because they were forced to be in the social world since the beginning. They're siblings' older, "cool" friends, and all the teachers knowing you for some reason. Your parents gave the older sibling more pity for just being a kid, so they were excused from any social event they were little. When the younger sibling came around, the older sibling was forced to go to social things, and since the older sibling is the babysitter now, the younger sib had to come as well. That, or the older sibling not coming to take care of you, so your social skills are at the same level by now or you went to stay at your parents' friend's house, developing more social skills with someone you don't know. Younger sibling syndrome. Actually stop, they treated you like that when you were the baby so shut up. Younger siblings typically have more amplified feelings, but hide them. They always feel embarrassed of their family but don't show it and most of the time don't want all of the attention they receive. They always secretly feel bad (and awkward) when they're parents compare them to their older siblings, and despite the usual, praise them more than the older sibling. Face it, we might not have the brains, but we have the rizz B) We are risk takers. If you see your sibling doing stupid, dangerous stuff, it's because we want to prove a point, idea, or confront a stereotype. If we rebel, it's probably because for a good, real reason, usually about parents and the micro aggressions they don't know that they're saying. Don't even try to pick on a younger sibling, we're used to it. "A youngest child may feel they have to compete or catch up to older siblings and may feel less capable or at a disadvantage. They may develop an outgoing personality, humor, and social intelligence to elevate themselves in the family dynamic" Though it might be true, don't call us spoiled. It makes us feel bad or unworthy and it actually has a huge impact inside. What if younger sibling always called their older siblings bossy? It may or may not be true but it's still a stereotype. It's proven that the younger sibling is more athletic than the older sibling. This is because they've spent their whole life playing against their older sibling and the younger sibling is going to develop skills at a faster rate when being athletic. Now I'm not saying the younger sibling is better than the older sibling normaly, just if they were the same age and doing things at the rate they are now, the younger sibling would 9 times out of 10 win by level and skill. Something I found interesting was that second-borns are most likely to get in trouble the most, regardless of how many siblings they have. Some say younger siblings have no filter... it's probably because they want attention. That's all there is to it. Older siblings might have a better filter, but that's because they can talk to everyone in the family and people will listen. Whatever things they say in books about the younger sibling telling the older sibling everything? That happens for a few years in their life (usually when they're 6-10 years old) and then it flips. The older sibling has the least amount of tea but tells everyone, and the younger sibling has so many secrets and stories that no one will probably ever know. Older sibling are most likely to have therapy, but younger siblings tend to need it more but are to scared to ask for it. Older siblings have the most attention academically, and parents just do the same thing for the younger sibling, even if it's not really what they need. Firstborns tend to be perfectionists, mostly for their parents, causing more anxiety for them, but younger siblings have to live up to that, and it actually makes life harder for both of you. I say just act natural. -- Now, here are some thing I have to give to the older siblings, because I know, and us younger siblings know, that you work hard too. you guys always try your hardest, and usually stick up for us younger siblings. you guys always have to take care of us, and always listen to the parents, usually to make up for the younger sibling not wanting to do anything. You're more mature and work hard to set the bar high. You remember everything about your younger sibling and pretend like you don't care, but secretly know you might care a little too much. You have to actually work to make your reputation good, not just take hand-me-down reputations. You have the responsibility of choosing good clothes so your younger sibling doesn't have to be embarrassed when they get hand-me-downs. Gotta hand it to you guys, you're all pretty great for your first time. ;)
