Not everyone has siblings, but if you d,o here are a few signs of a younger sibling — whether you have one or are one. From small to big families, little siblings tend to behave in a similar fashion. In their younger years they might be known as the crybaby, sweet angel or even the attention hog.
Nonetheless, every family is different and so are the personalities of the siblings. Who knows, sometimes the youngest is the brightest of all of the siblings, and other times they are not. Either way, they will always reside on the lower part of the family totem pole.
The term "younger sibling" can be applied to one who is younger by a few months, or by several years. In theory, these traits will likely be noticed the most if the age gap is within the range of two to six years — although they can still occur in more time.
1. Just stands there and is annoying.
As an older sibling, there are times when my little sister is just looking at me and she gets on my nerves. It is like she is doing it just to annoy me. The older I get, I wonder more and more if they emit something that makes our brains react in annoyance. Some might say it is just imagined and works like a placebo does in a controlled test. Still, I am convinced that it is just one of those things that is installed in our brains once we take on the role of the older sibling.
2. Gets away with more.
From not doing chores, to getting privileges at an older age, little siblings seem to know about something that the older ones don’t. For example, sometimes the younger one can’t do the dishes because it is past their bed time, or do the laundry because they forgot. Then there are the privileges that come with age. When I got my first cell phone, it was a hand-me-down. My sister got a new phone two years later that was nicer. Painting our rooms? Yeah, that happened at the same time. As an adult looking back, these seem dumb, but as a kid they were a big deal.
3. Gets you in trouble by crying.
Whether it was my sister or a younger sibling that I saw at a pool, they all use the same tactic. Often, especially in childhood, they like to play the victim even when there is not a trauma. Why do the parents fall for it almost every time? This one still stumps me. Do the older siblings seem only capable of being mean, and the youngest only of being innocent? Working the system is the best way I have been able to describe this phenomenon.
4. Copies you.
From clothing to jobs, younger siblings tend to follow in the older one’s footsteps. From their perspective, it worked for them, so I should do it too. Really, this notation should be flattering, but since the older sibling is trying to become their own person, having your younger sibling look like you is the last thing that you want.
5. Takes your things.
Just like the crying act, the innocence factor plays a role here too as far as the parents' reaction goes. For example, “Oh, that is yours, I didn’t know!” If something goes missing, there's an 80 percent chance the younger sibling probably took it. For some reason asking before taking does not seem to apply to them. They seem to have the mentality that what is yours is theirs, but what is theirs is still only theirs.
Maybe as an older sibling you can relate to these experiences. Although I am far too familiar with these instances, I find that these five signs become more tolerable as my sister and I get older. Now I like having her around more and sometimes I miss her when she is gone. I know that living away from home has definitely helped. If you are still struggling hardcore with these things after 10 years, maybe one of you needs to leave for a little while.
Either way, siblings young and old are always going to be in your life regardless of where you go. For survival purposes, you might want to embrace the sibling chaos in all of its glory. That way, at least you can get a few laughs out of it!
