oldest vs youngest.

we were having this great chat during supper at EYF. me, frankie and helen somehow ended up talking about the pros and cons of being the oldest kid versus being the youngest kid. and me and bea ended up bickering (i mean DEBATING) about it all the way home.

we ended up arguing about it so much that we came up with this list:

1st Reason
Val: Why it sucks being the oldest:
Oldest kids have to do all the hard work in paving the way ("clearing the jungle" as bea said) with parents eg asking to go out with friends, or in my case, finally getting my ears pierced at 14 then mum offers bea to get her ears pierced at 10!

Bea: Why it sucks being the youngest:
Youngest kids don't ALWAYS get hand-me-down clothes. In my case, i get no clothes at all, because Valerie doesn't grow (val: "HEY! i grew 1.5cm!!") therefore all the cool clothes she gets STAYS with her !!!!

2nd Reason
Val: Why it sucks being the oldest:
Oldest kids have a responsibility over the younger kids especially when the younger kid gets in trouble and the older one gets the blame! ALSO when i go out, bea is not allowed to stay at home by herself so i always have to take her along when i'm supposed to be with my friends!

Bea: Why it sucks being the youngest:
COUNTER ATTACK! From my point of view, whenever Valerie goes out with friends, I have to come along but I'm always shunted to the side, ignored whatever you call it. So i have to come along with her if she goes out but if i go out (rarely) then she gets to stay at home because mum trusts her to be by herself and not blow up the house.

3rd Reason
Val: Why it sucks being the oldest:
Oldest kids get more HOUSE CHORES! eg i hate washing the dishes, but if dad is away on business trip, or we have lunch at home while we're on holidays- i'm expected to do the dishes.

Bea: Why it sucks being the youngest:
COUNTER ATTACK! Actually, if Valerie has a chore that she doesn't want to do that i COULD do, she makes me do it. Or part of it anyway. (val: "it's called DELEGATION!") (bea: "it's called ANNOYING!")

4th Reason
Val: Why it sucks being the oldest:
Oldest kids always have this EXPECTATION set by the parents to do well and to be a "role model" or example to our younger siblings. which can be a lot of pressure especially if we stuff up and our parents use the guilt trip to make us feel as we're letting our young siblings down.

Bea: Why it sucks being the youngest:
COUNTER ATTACK! Just like older kids have expectations set by parents, the younger kids get compared to the older kid. Parents (not all the time) end up saying, "Why can't you be like [insert name here]? And then they go on to say how [insert name here] do so well and yeah, then they do the mini guilt trip on you to make you feel bad that your sibling is doing such a great job and being such a great role model but you're not responding.

In closing
this argument could've gone on forever... but in the end we decided that altogether... it sucks to be girls because guys' parents aren't as protective! ie even though i have my P's i'm still not allowed to drive myself anywhere and frankie agrees as his female friends at uni get the same deal whereas all his male friends can! (and they're LAUGHING about it!)(bea: "no comment. Are you done yet?")