4 Things Mikko Learned From Being a “Kuya”

Being a firstborn child entails a lot of responsibilities. But being an elder brother or “kuya” is a whole another role that your child may come across with. Our son, Mikko, has been an only child for almost eleven years. That’s enough time for him to be independent and learn how he can be a good example to his siblings. With that, here are the five things that Mikko learned from being a kuya.

1. He learned to become more independent.

Even though he was our only child for almost eleven years, this did not make him a spoiled kid. As parents, we didn’t give everything he asks for. We taught him that he should work hard for it and that there should always be a reason why he should have it. Looking back, I’m thankful that we have instilled that to him. Through this, Mikko learned how to work hard on his own. Sure, there are still some times that he asks us for help. But most of the time, he does everything on his own. Now that he’s a kuya, his skill in being independent grew a little bit more. Since we have a new baby, our attention’s now diverted to Zoey, our second child.  Now, we don’t have to worry about Mikko doing things on his own because he already knows how to do it.

2. He became more  responsible.

Being a kuya is like an instant-pass to becoming responsible in an instant. This means that he’s not the youngest child anymore. There’s someone younger than him in our family that will look up to him as a role model. With that, I am proud to have seen the change in my son. He’s now more responsible for his actions, and we can rely on him for help.

3. He learned to be patient.

Being a kuya taught him how to be more patient. Since he’s not the only child we have right now, he has to wait for his turn. Zoey, who’s just months old, would need our full assistance. Mikko, thankfully, understands this. He did not only learn to be patient for himself but for his sister, as well.

4. He became more confident with himself.

Now that he learned to be more responsible and independent, this gave Mikko a confidence boost. He has become more confident with his newfound role. Hopefully, he will embrace this role and apply it in his schooling life, as well. My dream for him is to be the eldest brother that the kids in his class would look up to and can always rely on.

These are just some of the things that Mikko learned from being a kuya. I know that he has a lot to learn more when he gets older, but I am glad of his achievements right now. I am thrilled to see how he will mature as our child and as an elder brother to his sister.