At first glance, having a sibling who was basically an adult by the time you were born might seem disappointing. You might worry that you won’t connect as you get older or you might struggle to find a lot of stuff in common thanks to the significant age difference. However, there are a ton of perks you might not realize are yours to enjoy! Here are 15 reasons why it’s awesome having a much older sibling.
1. You can follow their lead.
Since your sibling is older than you, they’re going to experience many things before you, like when it comes to dating, career, and general life experiences. They’re sort of like your own personal guinea pig, testing things out before you choose — or don’t choose — to follow their lead. They’re taking one for the team!
2. You’ll become more mature.
Even though you’re much younger than your sibling, spending time with them can help you to become more mature. You’ll be talking about experiences you know nothing about but that can help you gain tons of knowledge. Plus, you’ll hang with their older friends, which will make you wise beyond your years.
3. You have a stand-in parent.
Sometimes, your much older sibling will feel like a stand-in parent. They might try to discipline you when you do something wrong or tell you when you’re stepping out of line. While this can be frustrating, it’s also comforting to know you have someone there who can help you during tough times.
4. You don’t have to compete with them.
It’s easy to compete with siblings that are closer to your age because you’re going through similar stuff in life. However, with an older sibling who’s in a different life stage, there’s less of a need to try to one-up each other. It’s a relief and makes you feel a bit freer to simply enjoy certain life experiences and milestones as they come along.
5. You might get tons of hand-me-downs.
When your sibling’s over their current fashion style, they’ll hand all their clothing down to you, and since they’re much older than you, the clothing will probably be back in style — or about to come back. You get to stay ahead of the fashion curve and can save bucks on being a fashionista.
6. You can get awesome advice from them.
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Since your sibling is much older, they’ve gone through some stuff that you’re yet to experience. This means you can call them up and get some life advice when you need it, which is awesome. You can’t always get that from your friends or parents.
7. You find it easier to talk to them than your parents.
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While you might be close to your parents, it’s not always easy to talk to them about heavy or sensitive topics. That’s where your much-older sibling comes into play! They’ve got experience while still being cool, so it’s a win-win. They might also feel more comfortable being frank with you while your parents would try to shield you from certain truths.
8. You can get help with dealing with your folks.
Your much-older sibling knows your parents much better than you simply because they’ve known them for longer. So, when you’re not sure why your folks are being difficult with you or they’re irritating you, your sibling can help you better understand them and add a little context.
9. You can get along better because you’re in different life stages.
Since your sibling is a lot older than you, you’re in very different chapters of your lives. They’re probably not living at home with you or vying for the same type of romantic partner. This can help you to avoid fights and get along easier while still putting your family first.
10. Â You can plan for the future.
Having an older sibling is great because they give you insight into what the future’s going to be like. For example, if they’re in their 30s, they’ll be dealing with big decisions in their careers and relationships. You’ll get to see what they go through during their life stage, and it’s like a crash-course in being better prepared for your own future.
11. You can learn from their mistakes.
Maybe your older sibling was bad with their money for a while or went through toxic relationships. You don’t have to make the same mistakes! You can see what it was like for them and this will motivate you to make better choices.
12. You don’t have to wear matching outfits.
This is a huge benefit of having a much-older sibling. With siblings that are closer in age, chances are their moms made them wear the same outfits or at least look a bit coordinated. Yawn. Luckily, since your sibling’s much older, that’s not going to happen so you can spare yourself the embarrassment of childhood photos coming back to haunt you.
13. You know they’ll take care of you.
Much-older siblings will enjoy being there for you and taking care of you. They’ll offer advice and help you when you’re in a bind. It’s easier to depend on them because they’re older and wiser than the usual crew you hang out with. They’ll become your best friend!
14. You can use them to get out of trouble.
If you want to attend a party but your parents think it’s not a good idea, saying that your older sibling is going can be a game-changer and get you a free pass to have a good time! In this way, they can help you experience a lot of fun stuff while staying safe.
15. You don’t have to worry about bullies.
When people give you a hard time in school, you don’t have to put up with it – you can go straight to your much-older sibling, who’ll help you out. Ditto for when you’re older. You can always turn to your sister or brother, who’ll put those bullies in their place and help you stay out of trouble.
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