If you’re reading this and you’re a first born child, I do believe there will be quite a few points you can relate to.
Some time ago I realized I can tell if a person is a firstborn, maybe because I could see some of my own traits in them and maybe I’m just a really good guesser. As a first child you’re likely to be like a first pancake ( still eaten but not quite right). There’s a lot of trials and errors when raising your first child. Obviously parenting does have books and books written about it, but since we’re all different there isn’t an actual manual.
One of the first people I registered similarities with was no other than Prince William. Thought the royals seam to be brand new in the US, growing up in Europe they were like any other celebrities. Of course we had celebrity crushes that were boy bands, actors and such, we also had the royals. Being around same age as William there was a question: would you marry William or Harry. There was something about William that seamed relatable ( in a very unreliable way). It wasn’t until I was a bit older and Princess Di passed that it hit me: he was the one mostly exposed to his parents bad marriage, had a sense of responsibility to ‘take care’ of his mom and be a good child so she doesn’t have another thing to worry about. Thought our upbringing is vastly different, those things really hit close to heart.
If you’re someone who’s planning on having children I ask of you to keep in mind: children see more than what you think you’re actively showing them. This is coming from a child, yes me, who grew up too soon.
There are certain characteristics a firstborn people have that I found unite us in our experience. My theses may not be scientific but if I remember well from collage they are statically right. There’s a sense of responsibility,both to parents and younger siblings and later in life anyone we feel ‘needs’ us to act in that matter. Sometimes that creates a side affect: anxiety. I can only speak for myself and I don’t remember a time I didn’t feel anxious, because I always had to ‘deliver’. Often we are bossy, as a result of constant responsibility. Then there’s worrying, about everything and everyone. Often we are overly protective, to a fault. Most of the time people don’t pay attention to this little trades, so I can get away with brushing it off, but they are there,always. I’ve also noticed in some people I know and are first in birth order : we gravitate towards older people. Since I’m neither psychologist or scientist I can’t give any explanation that would back up my findings,so I can only speak for myself. People older than me seamed like they might have answers due to their age and experience so I tend to gravitate towards them. Maybe I’m just an old soul and it has nothing to do with me being a first born child.
To conclude this little chapter I’d like to express that not all is bad about being oldest child. Sure,you paved the way for younger siblings to have more chill and get away with more, but you also learn some tricks along the way that will help you later in life when dealing with people and situations.
*** ‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga