ds to do. On his fourth birthday, Nathan handed over to his mom the stuffed bear he'd slept with every night since infancy, and he has never asked for it back. Once firstborns become older siblings, they have the opportunity to lead. Wallace also says that, "The younger child often adores the older one because they can do so many things." This chance to teach and nurture a younger sibling further boosts the firstborn's self-esteem. An example would be from Barb Waugh, a mom of two in Houston, says that she can already see her 4-year-old daughter leading her baby brother. "Now that Sean is two, Eleanor mothers him a lot. I hear her repeat everything that comes out of my mouth to him."
             The greatest strengths of the firstborn can also become their biggest obstacles. For instance, a child who's a natural leader can have trouble making and keeping friends if she's always bossing them around. Firstborns also risk becoming perfectionists because of the scrutiny they're subjected to by doting parents, who, though well meaning, may focus on tiny flaws, making their child feel inadequate. Even when parents are supportive, firstborns can still put enormous pressure on themselves to succeed.
             In personality development, the oldest child is usually conservative, reflecting the mores and attitudes of the parents and of obedient self-control. Whether male or female, they are likely to be the member of the family who carries the patterns of an older generation into the new one. They are often jealous or anxious as a result of being superseded in the family
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