A road trip from Chicago to New York seems like a perfect family getaway at first. My parents, younger siblings, and I packed up the car excitedly, ready for what we thought would be an unforgettable adventure. However, as the oldest sibling, I quickly come to realize that wasn’t going to be enjoyable after all.
From the moment we hit the road, I felt a sense of responsibility weighing heavily on me. As the oldest, I was expected to look at my siblings. In the back seat, they fought over space, toys, and who could watch the iPad all the time. I was constantly being asked to settle arguments, make sure they were comfortable, and ensure they didn’t distract my parents from driving. It didnt help that the car was soo cramped and the constant noise made it hard to focus. I could never relax, as there was always someone needing something or someone causing a problem.
On top of that, I had to keep focus on my schoolwork. Being in high school meant I couldn’t afford to slack off, and I could quickly get assignments piled up. It was nearly impossible to concentrate with the noise of my sibling in the backseat, but I did my school work, as I was also trying to break up a fight with my siblings just for an iPad. The bumping car on the highway made it even more impossible to focus and found myself losing track of my school work and the trip itself.
Adding to my frustration was my mother constant questioning. Every so often, she would turn to me with a hopeful smile and ask, “Why aren’t you enjoyin this trip?” She didn’t seem to understand that I simply was “not having fun.” As the oldest, I had the pressure of being the responsible one. It wasn’t about me enjoying the trip for me — it was about keeping things running smoothly and ensuring everyone else was happy. My mom didn’t seem to just grasp that, as I would always hear, “ Why do you have that face on?” and just by her questions it made me feel even more drained or worthless.
By the time we reached New York, I was already feeling exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. Although I was excited to see my cousins, the idea of a relaxing road trip had been overshadowed by the responsibilities I had to carry. Although I love my family and my crazy siblings, the trip reminded me that being the oldest sibling isn’t always about having fun– it’s about being the one who holds everything together, even when it means to sacrifices your own enjoyment.
