Are You the Eldest Child? 5 Surprising Ways It Could Impact Your Parenting

If you’re the eldest child in your family, chances are you probably have practiced leadership, responsibility, and perhaps some unintentional rebellion. But what happens when you become a parent? Does your status as a firstborn come with any privilege, or does it empower you with the ability to crack parenting code like a seasoned master?

Read below this article to find out five surprising ways how being the eldest child can impact your parenting.

Being the eldest child often means you were the first to do everything—the one to go to school first, the first to learn how to tie your shoes, and probably the first to get a lecture on responsibility. Now when it comes to you being the parent, chances are you might naturally take on that leadership role. In fact, even a study has proven that the firstborns have higher chances to hold positions of authority and make decisions quickly. But with it comes stress too.

This can mean that, as a parent, you might instinctively take charge of every situation. However, unfortunately, you might also feel more pressure than your peers. And when you actually become a parent, you intentionally transfer that sense of duty directly to your kids.

If you were the eldest, chances are you spent a significant amount of time taking care of your younger siblings. Whether you were asked to take care of them so they didn't eat a full box of cookies or make them laugh when they fell on their knees, you were your younger siblings’ mini-parent. This experience has probably tasked you with caregiving that must be very evident in your parenting style too.

In fact, there is a high likelihood that you would be very organized and have a strict but fair system for handling tantrums and sibling squabbles. However, you may also find yourself stuck doing too much for your children, rather than giving them the space to learn from their mistakes.

Whether it was your grades, chores, or behavior, as the eldest, you probably had a higher standard to meet. And it’s no surprise that you might carry those expectations with you.

However, the reality is your kids might not be as eager to live up to your high standards. According to a study, firstborn children often experience greater pressure to succeed because of their parents' high expectations.

And when you become a parent, you naturally want the same from your kids.

Being the firstborn, you likely had to work through every problem yourself before your younger siblings came along. And you probably learned to think on your feet early. As a parent, this skill is extremely important.

You never know what your little one might do next. However, sometimes, your habit of solving problems quickly can leave you feeling overwhelmed, rushed, and, of course, burned out.

The truth is—firstborns are known to be more cautious, protective, and nurturing of their younger siblings. This protective nature often carries over to your own children.

And this is the reason why you are probably maybe worried about your kids before they even hit kindergarten. While being overprotective is not bad, in this hustle, don't forget your kids need some independence too.

Being the eldest child can reflect significantly on your parenting style. From leadership skills to high expectations, you are already backed with multiple strengths you might need for parenting. However, sometimes, make sure you take a step back from your responsibilities and let your child deal with challenges independently. It's time to let your kids grow and learn at their own pace.