I am the oldest of 5. Also the oldest grandchild on my mother's side of the family. My sister didn't come along until I was 3 years old. Then I was 5 when we added my brother, 6 when we added my second brother and 7 1/2 when my youngest sister came along. For the first 5 years, my sister and I were the only grandchildren.
My situation is a little bit different tho in that I have aunts and uncle who are only 10, 11 and 12 years older than me. And because we lived next door to my grandparents, and I was always "Grandma's baby girl", I almost feel like I could have been the baby of my grandparents family. Know what I mean?
I have done daycare in my home for the last 24 years. I chose to do that because it was important to us from the very beginning that I stay at home to raise our children. We did not want someone else raising our kids. Just a personal thing, I guess. OR it could be because my dad was adamant about my mom NEVER working - he wanted to be the provider and he wanted her to be home to raise the kids. I guess you live what you learned