Being the youngest child of the family is a unique role. There's no doubt that your birth order can shape your personality. We are said to be creative, rebellious and outgoing. There are both benefits and drawbacks to fulfilling this role, but that's what makes us so special. Here are a few things that all of us youngest siblings can relate to.
1. The back middle seat.
Family car rides means being crammed into the seat of doom.
2. Never making decisions.
As the youngest, you don't usually step up and decide where you're all going for dinner, or which route is the best to take. For most of your childhood, you've sat back and let the older family members decide.
3. Getting just a little spoiled.
You can't deny that being the youngest has its benefits (extra love and attention) because you're just the baby of the family.
4. Your teachers always have opinions of you before they've even met you.
Your teachers most likely knew your older siblings and used judgments of them to scope you out.
5. As a child, you were the tattletale.
Gotta do what ya gotta do.
6. High expectations.
You had to live up to your siblings.
7. Being overprotected.
Again, "baby of the family" status.
8. Feeling jealous of the older siblings.
Sometimes, you had to stay home, sit back, and watch them have all the fun.
9. Being the test subject.
You've been dressed up too many times to count.
10. Being tortured.
OK, not really. But you have been tickled nearly to death, rolled down flights of stairs and locked in closets.
11. Being thought of as annoying.
The younger sibling is the nemesis of the older sibling's friends.
12. Hand-me-downs.
Whether you like it or not, you're wearing those clothes.
13. Always the last one to know.
You were never the first one your parents confided in about serious matters. This could be pretty frustrating growing up.
14. Not being taken seriously.
You're just the pesky and immature younger sibling.
15. Your "firsts" aren't as important.
It just doesn't feel like as big of a deal when you win your first trophy, graduate high school or go off to college. It's all been done before.
16. You never had a real babysitter.
Older siblings are built-in babysitters, right?
17. The kids' table.
When it comes to family gatherings, you know you'll be occupying a seat at the kids' table for the rest of your life.
18. The day that your older siblings finally allowed you into their rooms.
It was glorious and will never be forgotten.
19. Seniority?
No thanks.
20. You don't have a name.
You only respond to "so-and-so's brother/sister."
No matter how old you get, the youngest sibling status is something you can never outgrow. You're the baby, and always will be. But you wouldn't trade it for anything.
