Older Sister Syndrome

"But really ma'am, I think it must be hard on younger sisters not to have their share of the fun just because the older sisters have not the means or inclination to be married."

So says Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, and so say I. I have always been the oldest sister of six in my family, and the oldest girl in my extended family. I only have one group of cousins, and the first girl in the Walker family is only 12 at present. So I unashamedly admit to not knowing how it is to have an older sister. I get vexed at my younger sisters for not listening to me over things, but how would it be to have someone always above you, always having the final say, always getting to do things you aren't getting to do?....Hmm...frankly, I don't think I'd like it very well. We must be patient with the younger girls, not knowing how it is to see a sister you love and admire off doing things, having experience and opportunities you aren't at the age to have yet. We get peeved when the younger girls complain over something we get to do yet again, but I don't think we grasp the idea of how hard it must be to wait.
This brings up a point: As older sisters, it is then our responsibility and our privilege to set our younger siblings up for success. One of my dearest friends is a younger sister, and she'll say with a half-smile and perfect good-humor, "Rebekah's in one of her Oldest-Sister moods!" And it makes me laugh, ashamedly, and squirm just a little, because I know I have those moments where the only thing on my mind is the mission at hand and everything else goes by the wayside. I don't think they happen frequently, {Thank you, God!}but all the same,  I'd hate to be reviewed like a book, and hear it said, "Rachel was a pretty good older sister...she bossed us a around a bit, and was always rather superior, and she was always too busy to do such-and-such..."
My my! Heaven forbid that would be my rating! [And just to calm you, I don't think any of my dear girls would say that of me.] God has placed us older sisters in our positions--we don't need to try to forsake that place, but let's use it kindly. We do have more opportunities than the younger girls--and that's okay. But I guess I would just caution us to not fall into condescension, like miniature Lady Catherines, and we must be careful not to be patronizing either. Our younger sisters are not our subjects, or our minions. I know from experience with my own blood-cronies that they are perfect candidates for the best of friends. Older sisters have a lot of say. We have clout, we have privileges, we have the blessing of more experience, hopefully more wisdom, and more years than the younger girls. But let's face it--we are all flawed, and we need to hurry and climb off our pedestals and just enjoy our sisters. :) ~Rach