The best of friends. Frenemies at best. Our relationships with siblings are some of the most complicated well ever have. Stuck With You is a HuffPost series that explores the nuances of sibling relationships.

Your birth order can shape your childhood in ways that follow you into adulthood. While not every oldest child grows up the same way, there are certain similarities in terms of personality and life experience that you tend to see among firstborns.

A large 2015 study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that the importance that is generally attached to sibling position in shaping ones character is exaggerated, according to Scientific American . However, anecdotally speaking, firstborns are thought to be independent individuals, perfectionists and high-achievers who sometimes struggle with parentification and may have trouble asking for help when they need it.

We asked HuffPost readers to share some of the truths of being the oldest sibling that stand out in their minds. Read on to see what they had to say.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Your parents relied on you sometimes too much to help take care of younger siblings and other household duties.

The oldest is held to a higher standard. Parents just want you to grow up, so your childhood is shorter. I was expected to be the best all the time, so there was a lot of criticism. I was also given more chores and responsibilities at an earlier age than my sibs, even as they got older. As the unpaid babysitter for my two younger brothers, I missed out on opportunities to socialize with my peers. Becky

As an adult, you are often in charge of caring for your aging parents.

I am more responsible for parental caregiving than my three siblings. Melissa K.

Youre responsible and independent as a result of your upbringing.

Having everything thrust upon me as the oldest child made me fierce. Most people compliment me and say they have never met anyone like me. I laugh it off and say its firstborn syndrome. Our parents expected the most from us and it forced us to be reliable, responsible and independent. A lot of firstborns I know are go-getters, as am I. I am supportive of my siblings like a parent and a sister. I will get on them where my mother wont, yet I am their biggest cheerleader. The dynamics of the firstborn are amazing and if the firstborn is a girl, skys the limit! Samaya B.

Your parents were a lot harder on you.

Im the oldest of three. Parents were much stricter with me. My youngest sibling couldve set the house on fire some days and my parents wouldnt have blinked. But I was terrified to bring home a C [grade]. Olivia H.

I had chores and curfews and expectations, and my younger two siblings had a free-for-all. My parents were better off financially when they were raising the younger two and I think that somehow relaxed them? They had more time, more money and that lessened their anxiety maybe?

No curfews or groundings for the younger siblings because they had access financially to do things that us older sisters did not. Maybe it was easier to say that I couldnt go because I didnt get my chores done in time than it was for my mother to say that we couldnt afford for me to go bowling or to the movies that weekend. Or maybe the younger siblings had more freedom because my mom was tired. I dont know. These are the things I tell myself though. Jessica S.