Photographic Proof That Being An Older Sibling Is A Different Kind Of Life

People talk all the time about how parents raise their first child in a way where they read all the parenting books and are super overprotective, but then their second child comes around and things are different. Parents are a little more relaxed and don't seem as worried about kid number two.

This is true, it happens, but it creates a complex situation for the older sibling. Any older sibling will know that their younger siblings are kind of like their children, arch-nemeses, and best friends all rolled into one.

Good Luck Ever Getting Any Privacy

a bunch of books stacked on one another to block the door
Photo Credit: Reddit / the_sponge_man
Photo Credit: Reddit / the_sponge_man

When you're the oldest sibling, your privacy and alone time mean as little to your siblings as your parents' privacy. Basically, you should be at their disposal at all times.

This, of course, means taking some pretty serious measures to get some alone time.

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If You Mess Up, Ever, You Will Never Be Able To Live It Down

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brother gets a bad picture of his sister and puts it on a mug
Photo Credit: Reddit / Alomba87
Photo Credit: Reddit / Alomba87
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Younger siblings are like parasites that feed off the embarrassment of their older siblings. So, if there ever comes a time when they have some dirt on you, you'd better believe they are going to milk it and then some.

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Little Leeches, All Of Them

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someone updated Netflix profiles to say
Photo Credit: Reddit
Photo Credit: Reddit
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For whatever reason, it is common among older siblings to be taken advantage of by their younger siblings when it comes to the Netflix login information. It's like the "what's yours is mine" mentality never leaves.

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Sometimes There Is Something Seriously Wrong With Your Younger Sibling

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Tweet: My little sister has an obsession with cutting the face off baby dolls/stuffed animals and putting them on other dolls. Help
Photo Credit: Twitter / @sassykattx
Photo Credit: Twitter / @sassykattx
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And your parents have to reflect on all the things that they did wrong and how, in the end, it's probably your fault for being a bad influence, to begin with.

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"Hey, Save Me A Bit Of Everything!"

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brother saved a bit of everything from Thanksgiving dinner
Photo Credit: Reddit / Seely2593
Photo Credit: Reddit / Seely2593
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When asking your younger sibling to do something for you, you have to be really specific and not leave any room for error or interpretation. If you do, you're going to end up with something that is technically what you asked for, but not what you wanted.

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How Is It They Get Away With This Stuff?

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a little brother makes a bad pun about milk going bad
Photo Credit: Twitter / @jeffmarcelfie
Photo Credit: Twitter / @jeffmarcelfie
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But, you love them for that. You can always count on your younger siblings to be the life of the party and keep everyone laughing. It won't stop anyone from being less disappointed in you, though.

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There Are Times When You Get The Last Laugh

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Tweet: My little sister came home crying
Photo Credit: Twitter / @AriannaModels
Photo Credit: Twitter / @AriannaModels
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Life is fair sometimes, and there will be moments when your little sibling will be the reason everyone is laughing. These are wonderful moments, especially when it's at their expense.

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They Can Be A Little Bit Dramatic

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Tweet: Someone at my sister's leftovers....she's been like this for two hours
Photo Credit: Twitter / @kiraaa__9
Photo Credit: Twitter / @kiraaa__9
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All is fair in love, war, and leftovers. Unless you write explicitly that no one else is allowed to eat your leftover food, someone is gonna do it. Even if you do, there is no promise it won't happen anyway.

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Everyone Is Weird, But Not As Weird As A Younger Sister

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a sister adding five minutes to the time they're meeting up
Photo Credit: Twitter / @TheSeanODonnell
Photo Credit: Twitter / @TheSeanODonnell
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...or brother—we should say any younger sibling. Why would five minutes make that much of a difference? Wouldn't it just be better to say you'll be five minutes late?

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Oh, Bless His Heart

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little brother thought that his sister was holding pop tarts, but she was holding tampon box
Photo Credit: Twitter / @gulickhannah
Photo Credit: Twitter / @gulickhannah
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There is some irony here because while that box of tampons is not a box of Pop-Tarts, there will be a time in her near future when she will wish that they were.

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What A Lovely, Heartfelt Note

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Tweet: My little sister got mad at me and wrote me a cute note
Photo Credit: Twitter / @abbygailrosee
Photo Credit: Twitter / @abbygailrosee
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This sounds like one of the nicest death threats ever made. One thing that happens often between siblings is the promise that one of you will someday kill the other.

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Sometimes You Wonder, "Was I Ever This Weird?"

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a little boy staring at a potato
Photo Credit: Twitter / @_sarahcoates
Photo Credit: Twitter / @_sarahcoates
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Often you'll catch your younger sibling doing something that seems so strange and outlandish and you'll feel like there is no way the two of you are related because they're not normal whereas you totally were.

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"Pay Attention To Meeeeeee"

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a little boy crying at his sister's cake
Photo Credit: Reddit / suckaduck024
Photo Credit: Reddit / suckaduck024
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It's just like a younger sibling to want to be the center of attention at all times. Whether you agree with them or not, they feel it is their god-given right.

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"Are You Sure We're Related?"

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Tweet: Why my little sister chose to bee the chicken from Moana instead of just being Moana
Photo Credit: Twitter / @rellybobarber
Photo Credit: Twitter / @rellybobarber
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Sometimes they do things that are really endearing that makes you remember why you love them so much, other than being related, of course.

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Younger Siblings Will Always Ask You The Heavy Stuff

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a snap from someone's little brother that says,
Photo Credit: Twitter / @seanghedi
Photo Credit: Twitter / @seanghedi
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One of the cool things about being an older sibling is being the person that your younger siblings will come to when they need to talk things out. Sometimes it's problems of the heart, sometimes it's about the horrors of sex ed.

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You Can Always Count On Them To Make You Feel Good

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someone's sister got them a chocolate Valentine
Photo Credit: Twitter / @babsdraws
Photo Credit: Twitter / @babsdraws
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Your younger siblings are always going to be hyper-aware of the places in your life where you feel insecure, and they're going to use that to their advantage at every moment they can.

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Even If It Means Being Petty

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brother unplugged his sister's phone without her noticing
Photo Credit: Twitter / @chrisrjust
Photo Credit: Twitter / @chrisrjust
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If they see a cheap shot, they'll take it. And before you know it, you're gonna have a phone that isn't charged and you'll be left alone with your thoughts—that's the real tragedy in this situation.

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Better Be Ready To Have All Your Secrets Exposed

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a brother snaps everyone a picture of his sister sleeping
Photo Credit: Twitter / @jakobi_wan
Photo Credit: Twitter / @jakobi_wan
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As we've discussed, siblings are going to embarrass you no matter what, but this gets even worse when they start using social media for themselves and add your friends on their accounts.

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They Are Nothing If Not Subtle

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someone's little sister brought them a room freshener
Photo Credit: Twitter / @mirrynbarney
Photo Credit: Twitter / @mirrynbarney
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Sometimes you can't help but be proud of how mean they are. You think, "Wow, they must really love me to go out of their way like this." And they do.

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Sibling Life Is Not Complete Without Embarassing Candid Photos

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a sister farting at her brother
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kateswarm
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kateswarm
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They usually involve some kind of fart, like this one where this sister clearly farted right in her brother's face before they are supposed to take some kind of nice picture together.

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How Very Clever

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Tweet: My little sister thought it would be funny to make an ipad
Photo Credit: Twitter / @ChristinaStam
Photo Credit: Twitter / @ChristinaStam
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It isn't like we haven't already seen this one hundred times before! Get more clever with your pranks, kids. It brought them joy, though, so that's gotta count for something.

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Ever Feel Like You're Being Watched?

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someone's sister puts googly eyes all over their stuff
Photo Credit: Twitter / @KarenChungTD
Photo Credit: Twitter / @KarenChungTD
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Pranking is like a love language that two siblings share with one another. There is no better way to express your love than with googly eyes and a snicker somewhere close by.

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Although Sometimes It Gets Out Of Hand

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Tweet: My brother thinks he's funny. Couldn't find my beauty blender and my brother kept saying that thing that looks like an egg, I checked and...
Photo Credit: Twitter / @timarafaith_7
Photo Credit: Twitter / @timarafaith_7
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Like when they think they're funny and mess with something that you need or use often. And they always do it at the worst times, too. Like exactly when you need that thing the most.

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It Can Feel Like They're Your Parents' Favorite

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Tweet: The way my dad has to sit with my little sister so she will eat her dinner
Photo Credit: Twitter / @KieranGlass
Photo Credit: Twitter / @KieranGlass
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That probably isn't true...probably. It's just because you don't remember them being there for you like that because you were too little. If you asked them to do it now, though, they might laugh in your face.

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How Do You Know If You're Related To A Monster?

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someone made a mess of the toothpaste tube
Photo Credit: Reddit / fishyboy1215
Photo Credit: Reddit / fishyboy1215
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What will be really strange is when you start realizing that you have some bad habits in common that are just going to feed off one another. Like doing this to the toothpaste and then being too passive-aggressive to say anything about it.

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Can You Say "Snitch"?

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Tweet: After I see 12 missed calls from my Mum, my sister sends me this....
Photo Credit: Twitter / @HazOsterfield
Photo Credit: Twitter / @HazOsterfield
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For a while, before they learn that you're their best friend, they're going to snitch on you every chance that they get because they think it makes them look good.

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But It Really Isn't All Bad

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Tweet: my ex just said happy new year to my wee brother and he replies with this. Love the wee savage
Photo Credit: Twitter / @elle_63x
Photo Credit: Twitter / @elle_63x
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No one is going to be in your corner more than your younger siblings. They'll hate what you hate, they'll hate who you hate, and they'll make sure that everyone knows it.

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They Look Up To You Because They Know You See The Best In Them

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brother taking good pictures of his sister
Photo Credit: Twitter / @JaeMajette
Photo Credit: Twitter / @JaeMajette
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Whether it be taking some sweet revenge pics to post on Instagram, or talking about their first heartbreak, they're gonna rely on you to do what needs to be done.

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And They'll Try To Do The Same For You

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a note from a little brother that says,
Photo Credit: Twitter / @KTVBBrian
Photo Credit: Twitter / @KTVBBrian
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In all the ways that they know-how, they'll be there for you, too. Sometimes, that might be super annoying, but their heart is in the right place. Other times, it might make you cry because it's so sweet.

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But, You Can Always Count On Them

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brother and sister sitting on the beach
Photo Credit: Reddit / helpfulstarfish
Photo Credit: Reddit / helpfulstarfish
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Because no matter what happens in life, you'll always be siblings and there is something comforting about that. Besides, once you're both over 30, you'll stop counting age anyway, so it won't matter who is older.