Whether it is my immediate family or most of friend groups, I have always been the youngest or the second youngest. Being the youngest is nothing new to me, and I have heard it all and dealt with almost every single scenario that comes along with the territory. There are some ups to being the youngest, but mostly there are struggles, so here are the 14 struggles of always being the baby of the group.
1. Always hearing “I can’t believe you're only ___” or “I forgot how young you are” and being called “the baby"
I am 19, not an infant, but to everyone I might as well be since I can't join in most of the adult festivities.
2. Always being made fun of, even though it's in a loving way
3. Still needing rides to places since I don't have a car yet, which is annoying
If you do have a car then you will be the designated driver until the end of time (or until you turn 21, too).
4. Always being compared to your older siblings, family members and sometimes older friends
Can't I just be me?
5. Being the last to do everything with an age limit
Getting my license, turning 18, you name it: I was the last one to do it.
6. Being the last to turn 21
Not being 21 with mostly 21+ friends is one of the most frustrating things ever. Going out to bars and clubs look like so much fun. But sadly you will not know how it feels until the blessed day you turn 21 or get a really good fake ID.
7. Your birthday will most likely be forgotten until you hit the big ages like 18, 21, etc.
It also doesn't help if your birthday is close to or on a major holiday like mine is (shoutout to all the Christmas Eve babies).
8. You are also most likely the shortest which only elevates all the struggles
Wait for me!
9. Sometimes, even though you are the youngest, you will be the mom of the group
Whenever your older friends or siblings are around you always ask if they need anything because since you are the youngest you will be designated to get it anyways. And sometimes you just have the right advice at the right time.
10. The FOMO is real
You're always left out.
11. Hand-me-downs upon hand-me-downs
A good portion of my closet has always been not my own clothes but ones that I have gotten from friends or older cousins, and sometimes my older brother (jerseys and other sports-related clothes).
12. No one takes you seriously
Even when you're serious.
13. Everyone graduates and moves on
Friends, family, everyone graduates high school and/or college and moves out and you feel like you will never get to that point, even though you are only a couple of months or years behind them.
14. But in the end, you love your older sibling(s), family and friends because they always have your back, even though it feels like a little too much sometimes
You know they're always there for you, and that means everything.
