Of all the birth orders stereotypes, youngest child syndrome tends to have the worst rep. Yes, we weren't apart of the trial period, so by the time our parents got around to parenting us, they had worked out a few kinks (much to the disdain of our siblings). Nonetheless, there are some tell-tale signs that you are the youngest child:
1. People (particularly your siblings) automatically assume that you're spoiled. While this may be true, there are pluses and minuses to every birth order, and you'd like to think that the advantages you've had as the youngest child balance out the advantages your older siblings had.
2. Once all of your siblings were college aged and older, you got used to having your parents alone, so now it's often an adjustment when the whole clan is home.
3. You always loved having someone to look up to. Your older siblings were like your role models, and while they often got annoyed when you copied them, they eventually learned that imitation is the highest form of flattery.
4....Although they did not appreciate that you frequently started doing things earlier than they were ever allowed to (ex. watching PG-13 movies, listening to explicit music, etc.).
5. You're no where near perfect, but you frequently observed your siblings and tried to learn from their mistakes (thanks for paving the way, sibs).
6. You grew up thinking that your siblings' friends were your own friends, but in reality, they probably just saw you as that scrawny five-year old who always tagged along.
7. Your friends who weren't the youngest envied your "cool" older siblings, as you often used their older expertise to show your friends the latest music and styles that the cool older kids were wearing.
8. You always yearned for younger siblings because you wanted someone to look up to you as much as you looked up to your siblings.
9. In school, you were always referred to as *insert name of sibling*'s sibling. Ahh, forever living in their shadow, and forever living up to high standards and expectations.
10. Growing up, you made it your goal to gain the respect and admiration of your siblings. You tried to show them that while you may be younger, you also have insights and thoughts to bring to the table. This did not always go so well.
11. You have trouble respecting authority figures who are the same age as your older siblings (excuse me, sir, but you could be my brother. Run along).
12. You have a hard time relating to people your own age who aren't the youngest because they don't know the difference between NYSNC and the Backstreet Boys, nor did they ever watch Family Matters or Full House growing up.
13. You've spent the majority of your life trying to escape being called "cute."
14. The greatest comeback you could ever muster when your siblings threw a snide "typical youngest" comment your way was, "Well, I'll always be younger."
Nonetheless, whether you spent your childhood years wishing you could be just like your siblings, or swearing you'd never make their mistakes, you've tried to pave your own way. As you've gotten older, they've started to soften their view on how the way you grew up may be different than the way they grew up--even with the same parents. And at the end of the day, you, as the youngest, wouldn't have it any other way.
