21 Things Only Siblings With a Big Age Difference Understand

1. You're in totally different stages of your lives. Maybe you're in high school while your little bro is in diapers, or you're pulling all-nighters in college while your older sister's having her own kids.

2. As the older sibling, you ran a carpool service, babysitting business, and tutoring job in high school. And you didn't get paid for any of it, because your big bosses were your parents. 

3. Having friends over is hard when your little brother has an early bedtime. You had to be super quiet, and forget about ever throwing a party.

4. Your friends were inevitably sucked into playing with your younger sib. The test of true friendship is playing board games with your BFF's little sibling when you really just want to talk about your crush.

5. As the younger sibling, you hated going to sleep. It's hilarious to look back on now because bed is bae, but back then, you knew you were missing out on all the fun.

6. You can't please everyone on family vacations. As a teenager, you're stuck on the teacup rides at Disney. As a toddler, you're dragged around to museums. 

7. You have to keep childhood traditions going forever. Just because you're in college, you're not done with putting milk and cookies out for Santa, or going on Easter egg hunts. And as the youngest child, you feel guilty discovering there's no Santa because the rest of your family seems to love pretending so much.

8. You can forget about going in on a gift. Either your mom is getting a macaroni necklace for her birthday, or you're paying for her present yourself. Sadly, your little sibling's piggybank doesn't amount to much.

9. The older sibling is jealous of how ~cool~ your parents are now. With their first kids, they were totally uptight, but a decade later, they couldn't be more relaxed. 

10. As the younger sibling, you grow up a lot faster. Your parents are older than most of your friends' parents, and they're not taking any of your teenage angst.

11. You have no idea what it would be like to get into a fight with your little sib. Hair pulling and wedgies? That fight would never be fair.

12. Bringing home a date is always an adventure. If you're older, it's hard to make a good impression on your crush when your little sib is talking about that time you played dress up together … yesterday. If you're younger, your date is just as intimidated by your older sibling as by your parents — there's one more adult to impress! 

13. As the youngest, you totally had only-child syndrome. ​Your teachers and friends don't even realize you have a sibling because you've been home alone for so long! Luckily you get the best of both worlds — your parents' undivided attention, and a helpful sib who's just a phone call away. 

14. You've gotten great at a long-distance relationship. You have a scheduled time to call and chat and enjoy the support of having a sibling without all the drama it usually creates.

15. But you still get a little jealous. As a younger one, you wish you were grown up and done from your parents' curfews too. As the older sibling, it's hard not to be jealous of your potentially spoiled little sib. He has no idea what it was like having your mom miss your school play because your baby brother was home with a fever.

16. As the older sib, you can teach them about the coolest movies and music from your childhood. Your CD collection is totally in again. 

17. Your hand-me-downs are either vintage cool or really weird. Is this your sister's closet or an Urban Outfitters? Hold up, is that a scrunchie?

​18. TV shows were ​never ​age-appropriate. ​Either you're both watching Teletubbies, or Gossip Girl, in which case sex ed came earlier than planned.

19. You could be an aunt when you're still in high school. Luckily, kids are adorable, and you know you'll have the perfect flower girl if you ever decide to get hitched.

20. It can be hard to connect with someone who's basically from a different generation. Your relationship is often more parental than anything.

21. But you wouldn't trade your sibling for the world. When your parents are being super embarrassing, there's only one person you want to laugh about it with.