Oldest child

I enjoyed being the oldest. I didn't enjoy bossing my siblings around, and when it didn't really matter, I often let my little sister think she was in control, but she and my little brother would listen when I made it clear I wasn't screwing around. My parents often treated me more like an adult much earlier than they did my other siblings, and my mom often asked me for advice, even when I was fairly young. Being the oldest does have a few minor disadvantages, one of which is being the guinea pig for new parents. The other problem that I have is that my little sister is always accusing me of being the favorite. Now that both of us have married, she even extends this accusation to our spouses. She frequently claims that our parents like my wife better than they like her husband. Oh well, that's my sister.

The oldest child in a family usually feels a responsibility that other family members might not have. Since they were reared first they usually have stricter rules than younger children, and also don't have the benefit of learning from somebody else's mistakes. Many older children internalize an expectation of perfection because of this. They don't yet know that things will be ok if they make a mistake, or that their siblings will still look up to them if they screw up. I think the oldest will often put undue pressure on themselves which can lead to a lot of anxiety and other issues. When the oldest child develops in a healthy way, I still think they have a tendency to want to be the caretaker. They want to look after others, and this can be expressed by either a bossy or doting personality.

It seems to me that the parents are more overprotective of the oldest, by the time the other children come around, they dpn't care anymore and have loosened up a bit. But since I have no children and was not the oldest child, I really have no authority here. I'll bow out now.

I don't see why any position of siblings is superior than any other, but I am the oldest. I think that means you're supposed to be a take charge sort of person. Maybe, I don't know. Is that why I tend to be bossy? perhaps. Life can suck for the oldest, too because you are the guinea pig. The first child, where they test out the waters, on parenting first. Usually they are really strict, I think. The 2nd child comes along and they have so much to do now that they start getting a little more lenient. By the 3rd or more child, that child has it made in the shade because the parents usually ignore things because they're so exhausted they just don't have the energy to make a mountain out of a molehill anymore.

it isnt bad but it sint awfull

Oldest is by far the best just because you're first. You'll no doubt be favored by others in the family whether they admit it or not. You get first crack at everything and will be remembered as the first child to do everything. You wont get hand-me-downs and your younger siblings will look up to you. If you're a male you may get stuck with a Jr. title though.

I am the oldest of the girls that my mom and dad had together. I am the 4th child of all of my mom and dad's children from previous marriages. It don't matter to me.

Iam the oldest child. That would be the only way I would have it. It would suck tobe the youngest in my eyes.

It's okay being the oldest but sometimes I use to want an older sister. Someone that could teach me somethings I had to learn on my own. An older brother for protection. But it's not too bad. I think I've learned a lot about being responsible and self-reliant.

Has advantages and disadvantages. I'm the oldest, I have one youger bro, who's 7. If your the oldest ,u usually get blamed more for stuff, that you usually didn't do, tatteltaling bros. But, u do get to do more stuff then your younger sibling, like go more places and stay up later.

I'm the oldest of five boys and since our dad died when I was 13 and our mother always worked I became the parent of record in the house. It was hard living up to my mother's expectations but it meant I got to make most of the rules and decisions too. It's a mixed bag being the oldest but all in all I think it worked out to my advantage. Most of the oldest kids I know have to be more responsible than the others and that's understandable. I don't think you can make generalized statements, however. All families are different.

I am the oldest, but its not always the best because i am forced to constantly look after my younger sister and take her everywhere i go! But i am allowed to do whatever I want and my sis is always being compared to me, but can never quite measure up, which makes me the golden gal in the family!

I'm the elder if two children in my family, and I think being the oldest has both its good and bad points. I liked being the oldest because for the few years before my sister was born, I had my parents' undivided attention. I also got to help my mom with my sister and do things my sister couldn't. Things I didn't like about being the oldest were that my parents tended to be more protective of me than my little sister (probably because I'm also disabled), I was expected to be the responsable one, and all of a sudden, I wasn't the center of attention anymore. Even though my sister and I are now 16 and 22, I'm still expected to be the more mature, responsable sister.

Patient but used to bossing everyone around and having everyone conform to their wishes. It always has to be their way.