Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Parents know, that there are some quite big differences between having your first and second children. From different approaches to pregnancy, to slightly different ways the kids are raised once born. And these changes were beautifully illustrated by Weng Chen - an incredible artist, VR game designer and a mom from China, currently living in the US.
Weng Chen was always close to the world of art. "When I was about 2, 3 years old, my mom drew me a little mermaid and told me the story," she wrote on her website. "I was fascinated, it was like magic that the most beautiful picture just came from my mom’s pen. I believe that was when I fell in love with drawing and storytelling."
Now she focuses on drawing comics about her dreams and daily lives raising her two daughters, Electra, the firstborn, and Ali, the secondborn, together with her husband. "Messycow comics were started with an impulse. I didn’t spend any time designing anything, just dove in and started drawing."
Her latest series of comics explain the differences between the firstborn and the secondborn children and the strips are hilarious. What do you think?
More info: wengchen.wordpress.com | Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Tiari 7 years ago
Why on earth would somebody think that low carb is especially healthy for a fetus? Low carb in a pregnancy increases the risk of obesity for that child later in life.
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
These comics make me wonder if everyone should be an only child or something. :p Maybe it's just hyperbole but they don't seem like the most responsibke parents, and I'm in a family of 7 so meh. :p
Rina KingofDuck 2 years ago
20 weeks in, I’m actually much healthier wt the second on cuz I saw the consequences from the first preggy high carb diets (Candida I m staring at you). The second one is harder on the morning sickness too and consequently I have more aversion to oily greasy food.
This Lil Raccoon 7 years ago
My mum are chips dunked in chocolate when she was pregnant with me
Sierra Hall 7 years ago
I was reversed. I realized with my first that the "eating for two" just means you gain a lot of unnecessary weight.
Eva Wiechenberg 7 years ago
It is a reference to a character from Spirited Away, who devours everything including people.
Load More Replies... RELATED:
#2
#3
Lenka Čábalová 7 years ago
Exactly the same situation here with my first born toddler... am I a bad mother? :D
#5
MEB 7 years ago
I am currently pregnant with our first, which is also gonna be our last because of my age. Yesterday, Dear Husband and I have seen baby on the ultrasound and since then, he's been floating on a blissfull cloud, telling everyone he meets (even strangers!) about his unpreceded and boundless happiness. Guess who gets to wear a crown for the next 5 months? :)
#7
#10
Sofie S 7 years ago
This happened to me, and I felt worthless as a mother for not being able to breastfeed. You can only try so much, and in the end what really counts is that the baby is being fed somehow and is healthy. I had to bottle feed him for his survival. I do think it's great when you can breastfeed your child, but sometimes you have to let go of some of your beliefs. Even though I had never thought about it, apparenltly, I as a new mother believed that a real mother has to breastfeed her child, or else she is not a "complete" mother. But now just see it as a true mother does what is best for her child, which in this case is giving the child enough nutrition no matter if it comes from a breast or bottle. Nobody wins a special prize for being able to do it the "natural" way. I'll never say I'm "pro" this or that. It hurt to be reminded by people that breast was the best when it didn't work in my situation even though i really wanted it to.
#14
Daniel Sipes 7 years ago
I am a middle child and this is PAINFULLY relatable. I had walking pneumonia once and could barely breath one night due to all the congestion in my lungs. My parents didn't believe I was actually having trouble breathing and assumed I was just panicking. If my grandfather didn't have an oximeter on him, my family probably would have let me stay at home and I would have died of oxygen deprivation. :|
#15
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Daria B 7 years ago
I see some first-borns here speaking up about how their younger sibling seems to have been given more attention. Now, I don't know your personal family life, so please, don't think I'll be lecturing you, I'm just going to offer you a different outlook that might (or might not) help you out. 1.) The thing is that very likely you were given a similar amount of attention, it's just that you were too young to remember or even notice. It's always easier to see things in 3rd person. 2.) It's very human for new parents to be extra careful with their first born, because they're still learning. With the next children they get more relaxed because now they have some knowledge and experience, and this is what these comics are all about.
Echo 7 years ago
And 3.) Raising kids is a lot of damn work. Your parents may also just be worn out. I know I am.
Load More Replies...
Jeanie Kwon 7 years ago
This made me kinda sad actually. I'm a firstborn and my brother is the secondborn and I think he struggled with being compared with me all the time and feeling like he wasn't as appreciated or "needed", I suppose, than me. This entire comic makes it really evident to me that my brother's grief isn't unbased and that it probably is a wider issue among secondborns or middle childs than expected. Downvote :(
Monilip 7 years ago
Well, I have difference experience. I'm firstborn and I have younger brother. My mother's focus was always on him (for as long as I can rembember) and well, she cares more about him than me. Maybe it's mama's boy thing, I don't know. I'm still bitter about it sometimes and I'm grown women now. So it's not always "firstborn is the best" thing
Load More Replies...
Zori the degu 7 years ago
That's why I've always thought having 1+ kids is a bad idea. I suffered exactly the same problem, even though I was the firstborn in the family. I just felt as though I was treated unfairly. Always having to clean up after my sister and yeah, it was always my fault, even if it was obvious she was the one who messed everything up. Fortunately, at some point my mom bought a couple of books on children psychology and soon all was fine and my relationship with my parents was greatly improved. And, no, it wasn't just the fact that I grew older and already had more brains in my head.
COton Channel 7 years ago
Some parents think that they know so much about parenting and they avoid any advice of people who have lots of experience in that field. I guess we, as humans, we love to reinvent the wheel.
Load More Replies...
Jewell Starsinger 7 years ago
Not funny. Sad, really. Our culture sees these travesties as normal events instead of symptoms of a terrible system - The nuclear family. Why is it considered normal for one under-trained young woman to train a new person, all by herself? Where is her extended family? Aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors! She is alone in her house raising children, w***y-nilly as she pleases. WTF?
Daniela Spireva-Ivanovska 7 years ago
I did not do most of the things for my child (I have only one) and I find this too exaggerated. And I would not allow myself to treat my children unequally (don't give me that "Wait until you have second child"). My mother treated me and my sis the same and I don't see why I shouldn't do the same.
Ntosh 7 years ago
I have 2 kids, the first born is a boy, second is a girl. I could not relate at all to all these. It may be because they are of different sexes. I still fuss about what my second eats, what she wears, what she is exposed to, and so much more. She is a year old but she is still my baby, I don't want her to grow :(. And the big one is still mommy's boy
stellermatt 7 years ago
yep, you think your 1st child is soo fragile, turns out not so much and you probably didn't need to worry THAT much, so 2nd child gets benefit of the doubt.
Just a Purpler 7 years ago
Oh the joys of being the second born... I wish she'd at least included some of the cons of being the first born. This is actually a rather one sided views comic. I feel depressed now, not amused...
Ehren Thomsen 7 years ago
Of course it's a rather one sided view, because the comic is not about the children, it's about the mom.
Load More Replies...
Donna Rose 7 years ago
I think a lot of this is so true, but some of how the kids are treated has to do with whether the parents were first borns or later. My mom was a second child and my dad was a youngest. The day my younger sister was born, she became the princess who could do no wrong. What she wanted was law, what she said was always true. They were so focused on making sure she didn't get the short end of the stick that they forgot it could go the other way. Now as a parent, I often find myself relating more to my oldest, and I have to be careful because I don't want them to be treated unequally.
Dominika Masná 7 years ago
terrible, people who dont want tto take the best care of their all children, should have no child...
Aaron Ling 7 years ago
Poor 2nd born does not realise things gets worse for them once no.3 comes around.
Justin Landry 7 years ago
hahahaha, imagine the third child !!! ( fall's to the ground and cries a little bit )
Daria B 7 years ago
Falls to the ground -> "Stand up, you're fine" before the child even has the time to realise it hurts and to start crying.
Load More Replies...
Nyree Huh 7 years ago
Is this why my sister still acts like the queen of the house and im often ignored
J T 4 years ago
Actually I was laughing all through the comics.. 😂 because I have a 1year old and I am seriously that particular with him! If he doesn't eat I go into depression 🤣 but I don't know what I'll do with 2nd kid. I guess by that time I'll be fine with everything. But then I read the comments sections.. and phew... I remembered that I am a second child and having an elder sister with 32 years of long mental health issues and her issues with my parents... This had actually left me feeling like an orphan... I actually went to therapy because my parents never had time for me. She was always always always into some kind of trouble. Even today her marriage is going through a divorce... She just cannot live a peaceful life, i just feel very very sorry for my mum and dad.. they never received any love, respect and care from her inspite of all that they did for her... It's her tendency to kick and hurt the people who love and support her.. and we have all have our butts kicked... Really sad.
savanna stewart 7 years ago
I'm the second child and seeing this makes me think of what my mom does/did. I feel kinda sad about this now
tsuki nercua 7 years ago
My mom did the same to me as she did with my older bro. Not all parents are like this xD
hyprstorm 7 years ago
All these artists really bother me. Many of the comic I see have tons of grammar issues.
Daria B 7 years ago
I see some first-borns here speaking up about how their younger sibling seems to have been given more attention. Now, I don't know your personal family life, so please, don't think I'll be lecturing you, I'm just going to offer you a different outlook that might (or might not) help you out. 1.) The thing is that very likely you were given a similar amount of attention, it's just that you were too young to remember or even notice. It's always easier to see things in 3rd person. 2.) It's very human for new parents to be extra careful with their first born, because they're still learning. With the next children they get more relaxed because now they have some knowledge and experience, and this is what these comics are all about.
Echo 7 years ago
And 3.) Raising kids is a lot of damn work. Your parents may also just be worn out. I know I am.
Load More Replies... Jeanie Kwon 7 years ago
This made me kinda sad actually. I'm a firstborn and my brother is the secondborn and I think he struggled with being compared with me all the time and feeling like he wasn't as appreciated or "needed", I suppose, than me. This entire comic makes it really evident to me that my brother's grief isn't unbased and that it probably is a wider issue among secondborns or middle childs than expected. Downvote :(
Monilip 7 years ago
Well, I have difference experience. I'm firstborn and I have younger brother. My mother's focus was always on him (for as long as I can rembember) and well, she cares more about him than me. Maybe it's mama's boy thing, I don't know. I'm still bitter about it sometimes and I'm grown women now. So it's not always "firstborn is the best" thing
Load More Replies... Zori the degu 7 years ago
That's why I've always thought having 1+ kids is a bad idea. I suffered exactly the same problem, even though I was the firstborn in the family. I just felt as though I was treated unfairly. Always having to clean up after my sister and yeah, it was always my fault, even if it was obvious she was the one who messed everything up. Fortunately, at some point my mom bought a couple of books on children psychology and soon all was fine and my relationship with my parents was greatly improved. And, no, it wasn't just the fact that I grew older and already had more brains in my head.
COton Channel 7 years ago
Some parents think that they know so much about parenting and they avoid any advice of people who have lots of experience in that field. I guess we, as humans, we love to reinvent the wheel.
Load More Replies... Jewell Starsinger 7 years ago
Not funny. Sad, really. Our culture sees these travesties as normal events instead of symptoms of a terrible system - The nuclear family. Why is it considered normal for one under-trained young woman to train a new person, all by herself? Where is her extended family? Aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors! She is alone in her house raising children, w***y-nilly as she pleases. WTF?
Daniela Spireva-Ivanovska 7 years ago
I did not do most of the things for my child (I have only one) and I find this too exaggerated. And I would not allow myself to treat my children unequally (don't give me that "Wait until you have second child"). My mother treated me and my sis the same and I don't see why I shouldn't do the same.
Ntosh 7 years ago
I have 2 kids, the first born is a boy, second is a girl. I could not relate at all to all these. It may be because they are of different sexes. I still fuss about what my second eats, what she wears, what she is exposed to, and so much more. She is a year old but she is still my baby, I don't want her to grow :(. And the big one is still mommy's boy
stellermatt 7 years ago
yep, you think your 1st child is soo fragile, turns out not so much and you probably didn't need to worry THAT much, so 2nd child gets benefit of the doubt.
Just a Purpler 7 years ago
Oh the joys of being the second born... I wish she'd at least included some of the cons of being the first born. This is actually a rather one sided views comic. I feel depressed now, not amused...
Ehren Thomsen 7 years ago
Of course it's a rather one sided view, because the comic is not about the children, it's about the mom.
Load More Replies... Donna Rose 7 years ago
I think a lot of this is so true, but some of how the kids are treated has to do with whether the parents were first borns or later. My mom was a second child and my dad was a youngest. The day my younger sister was born, she became the princess who could do no wrong. What she wanted was law, what she said was always true. They were so focused on making sure she didn't get the short end of the stick that they forgot it could go the other way. Now as a parent, I often find myself relating more to my oldest, and I have to be careful because I don't want them to be treated unequally.
Dominika Masná 7 years ago
terrible, people who dont want tto take the best care of their all children, should have no child...
Aaron Ling 7 years ago
Poor 2nd born does not realise things gets worse for them once no.3 comes around.
Justin Landry 7 years ago
hahahaha, imagine the third child !!! ( fall's to the ground and cries a little bit )
Daria B 7 years ago
Falls to the ground -> "Stand up, you're fine" before the child even has the time to realise it hurts and to start crying.
Load More Replies... Nyree Huh 7 years ago
Is this why my sister still acts like the queen of the house and im often ignored
J T 4 years ago
Actually I was laughing all through the comics.. 😂 because I have a 1year old and I am seriously that particular with him! If he doesn't eat I go into depression 🤣 but I don't know what I'll do with 2nd kid. I guess by that time I'll be fine with everything. But then I read the comments sections.. and phew... I remembered that I am a second child and having an elder sister with 32 years of long mental health issues and her issues with my parents... This had actually left me feeling like an orphan... I actually went to therapy because my parents never had time for me. She was always always always into some kind of trouble. Even today her marriage is going through a divorce... She just cannot live a peaceful life, i just feel very very sorry for my mum and dad.. they never received any love, respect and care from her inspite of all that they did for her... It's her tendency to kick and hurt the people who love and support her.. and we have all have our butts kicked... Really sad.
savanna stewart 7 years ago
I'm the second child and seeing this makes me think of what my mom does/did. I feel kinda sad about this now
tsuki nercua 7 years ago
My mom did the same to me as she did with my older bro. Not all parents are like this xD
hyprstorm 7 years ago
All these artists really bother me. Many of the comic I see have tons of grammar issues.
Related on Bored Panda
