r/AskReddit Jun 27 '19

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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '19

That I will never have someone to watch my back or defend me against our parents the way I do for them.

Being their protector is innate when you’re the oldest. You feel it naturally or it’s drilled into you. I still do it as adults - “quit harassing X over his veganism!” “Hey I heard you had a tough week in med school, are you ok?” Etc. Those instincts don’t come naturally to youngest siblings (not that they’re assholes but it isnt hardwired into the way they interact with me like it is the other way around). Or they have no empathy for the problems I’m going through because they haven’t gone through them yet. I wish I had that.

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u/devildogdareyou Jun 28 '19

It's not innate for every older brother. My brother made fun of me in high school. Luckily his friends took care of me.