Siblings have been regarded in many different ways since the beginning of time. From being annoying, to being your best friend, emotions can run high when it comes to your siblings. The hierarchy and pressures of being different ages can weigh heavily on a person. So what is so different about having a brother or sister, rather than being an only child? Why is it so impactful on a person?
Emily Lawson, a junior at De Soto High School, comments on how many siblings she has and how it affects her.
“I have 4 siblings, and I’m the middle child, so I have two older and two younger siblings. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of pressure on me, but looking after my younger siblings, and making sure that they’re doing alright,” said Lawson.
This responsibility can look different from the younger sibling’s perspective, however. Micah Tenner, a history and psychology teacher at De Soto High School, reflects on how being the youngest makes a big difference in his life.
“I’m the youngest, and as the baby child, I probably got my way more often and was always treated like the baby child compared to the older ones that had to be a little bit more responsible. That’s a role I relished,” said Tenner.
However, this sibling hierarchy does not apply to everyone. Some only children, such as Lily Zeier, have a different experience altogether.
“I have zero siblings. I’m definitely more independent and I don’t need a bunch of help with stuff. I can do things and figure things out on my own,” said Zeier.
In contrast to the independence that comes with being an only child, the perspective that only children take can be different from most.
“They’re [people with siblings are] always lounder, and more extroverted I think,” said Zeier.
Not only are they louder, but the responsibilities that older siblings have can be overwhelming at times according to Lawson.
“My older siblings do have a little bit more pressure on them to succeed and do well. My younger siblings don’t really do much,” said Lawson.
Regardless of the disadvantages of having siblings, there are also many advantages. Tenner comments on the best part of growing up with siblings.
“I can go to them for advice. It’s another person that had similar experiences to me, so I could ask them for help for things. And because we’re closely related, that’s probably easier than if it’s someone you didn’t know, or that you didn’t get raised with,” said Tenner.
Ultimately, there’s no way to tell whether having siblings is good or bad. However, it can be said that there are positives and negatives on both sides.