Being a middle child can be tough, but being the oldest child can be even harder. The eldest sibling has to deal with everything:
- The jealousy of younger siblings.
- The neglect of parents.
- The burden of having to be in charge of everyone.
Of course, being the eldest sibling has its perks: you get to choose your siblings, which means you get to live with the people you like the most.
The eldest sibling is the first child in the family, and-this goes without saying-the oldest. They are expected to know all the answers and to look after and care for their younger siblings. The oldest one is not often given the freedom to explore and is often told what they can do. He or she is seen as a role model to their younger siblings.
As the oldest sibling, how can you best be a supportive role model for younger siblings? According to parenting experts, you can do a few things to help your younger brothers and sisters.
Here are some tips on what to learn as the eldest sibling, and to cope with life as it comes.
You will learn that life is not always fair.
Life is not fair. We live in a world where getting ahead is hard. We only get one shot at life, and many people don’t have much time left. It’s easy to get frustrated and disappointed when you lose that job that promotion, your loved one dies, or you get injured by someone careless. As an elder sibling, you may have to face most of the brunt of these hardships in life. Along with that, you will be expected to be a support for your younger ones as well as parents, which means that you may have to learn to be strong from a young age. Furthermore, as your parents grow older, it would become your responsibility, as the eldest sibling, to make sure that they are taken care of and are provided the best home senior care in south nashville or in your locality.
You will learn how to share properly.
We all want to believe that we are responsible for our own actions and willingly accept blame when things don’t go our way. Yet, like children, we sometimes lack the discipline to make good choices and follow through. Sharing is an important aspect of growing up with siblings, and as the elder one, you will have to learn this early on in life!
You will learn how to be a good example.
As the eldest sibling, you are the role model. You set an example so that the younger sibling will follow suit. Your words, actions, and attitudes will shape your younger sibling, so setting a good example is important.
For instance, you can set the example of how we provide support to our elderly family members. You may find yourself in a situation where you need to find curved stairlifts to ensure their safety and independence in navigating multi-story homes. You might have looked for stairlifts locally, or searched “curved stairlifts installed in Birmingham” (or wherever you stay) online and found the best provider on you own accord. This proactive approach will demonstrate your commitment to their well-being and comfort, and set an example in front of your younger sibling.
Being the eldest child comes with so many advantages, but it comes with disadvantages like every other sibling (or child, for that matter). Being the oldest child can put pressure on you to grow up faster while your parents, older siblings, and relatives watch you from a distance while you’re still a child. It also means you are going to be the primary caretaker for your parents in their old age. If your parents get sick or infirm, it would fall on you to handle the little things regarding their care, making sure they are comfortable and loved. So you might have to learn how to procure medical help for any diseases they might have, be able to research things like differences between adjustable and hospital beds and what type of walk-in bathtubs you should install if need be, and prepare for hospital visits. Such bitter realities of life may fall on you as the eldest sibling, and it would be up to you how you will handle them.
The eldest sibling usually has the role of caring for their home and younger siblings. They are the ones who help raise and support their younger siblings while their parents work. They take on the role of setting an example for the younger ones. They are the ones who tend to look after their younger siblings, making sure they are comfortable and safe. They are the ones that tend to worry when their younger siblings are not around, wondering if they are safe. They are the ones who take on the task of being the responsible one, the one who makes sure their younger siblings have what they need. They are the ones who parent their younger siblings. And this can be a very fulfilling experience-with the right approach and a little patience.
