Which is the Hardest Role of a Child in the Family?

Family is the basic unit of society. A family is a group of people who are related to each other. A family is where each individual learns to socialize and function in the community. It is the first environment where we learn a lot of things. Families can be functional or dysfunctional. A family can be functional if every member of the family fulfill their agreed upon roles and responsibilities, treat each other with respect and affection, and meet each others need. A dysfunctional family fails to provide any of the necessary elements of the function of a family, overtime or separated. Their are lots of family structures but for this article, we will focus on nuclear family or the traditional family consisting of married couples and biological children. Which is the hardest role of a child in the family? Is it being the eldest? Or the second one or the middle? Or perhaps its the last child? What do you think?

1. THE ELDEST

For other people being the eldest is such a blessing. You will be the first child of your parents, you will be their first love, in terms of inheritance you may have the highest value, you have all the attention of your parents. Nevertheless, when we ask people who are the eldest among their siblings if they feel blessed being the eldest... most of the answers are a big NOT. It is because it is really very hard to be the eldest. The eldest needs to act as a parent to his or her siblings when their parents are away from them. The eldest will be the first one to be blame when their siblings fight with each other. The eldest should be perfect! The eldest should not commit any mistakes for he or she is the eldest. The eldest needs to be the perfect model for his or her siblings. Now, is being the eldest the hardest role of a child in the family?

2. THE SECOND

Other people say that the second child in the family was always being praised. The second child was more blessed because aside from their parents, the second child has an elder sibling who will surely look for him or her. Sh doesn't need to do a lot of household chores for his or her elder sibling will do it. However, the second child who will read or hear these reasons why they were on the most easiest role of a child in the family will surely laugh or feel insulted. It is because being the second child is not easy as it may seem. Always remember how the second child needs to strive hard to move away from the shadow of his or her elder sibling. Imagine how the hardship of the second child to be the best but no matter how the second child tried, he or she will always remain as the second best. Not the best but the second best! Now, is being the second child the hardest role of a child in the family?

3. THE LAST

Most people will say that the last child is the most fortunate among his or her siblings. They will consider the child fortunate for the only role he or she needs to do is to give joy in the family. The last child can do anything that her or she wants for the parents will always support her or him. Nevertheless, being the last child doesn't feel heaven at all. The last child needs to always listen to his or her parents and elder siblings. Most of the members of the family always monitor the last child. When the family faces a problem and they need an immediate solution, the last child is not allowed to suggest. The last child is not allowed to suggest because he or she is still young and forever young in their eyes and have the least experiences in facing a problems and trials. With this practice, it seems that the last child is not a part of the family! The question: is being the last child the hardest role of a child in the family?

The eldest may be the one suffering from the responsibility that was given to her or him. A strong pressure was always there to remind him or her to not do any mistakes. He or she needs to provide first the needs of the family and his or her siblings before providing for himself or herself.

The second child may be suffering because he or she will always remain as the shadow of the eldest. He or she is always on the race on proving and moving up from being the second best to best.

While the last child was the one being left behind because the family sometimes are not informing him or her about something important and when the last child would stand up and defend himself, they will consider it "no manners."

As for everyone's information, every role of a child in the family is hard. Its not easy to be the eldest, not easy to be the second child, and not easy to be the last one. There are no perfect and easy family roles. So, we should stop judging their sides or stop comparing it because we will never know their hardships unless we step on their shoes.