Whether you have 25 or two siblings, being the youngest isn’t as easy as it looks. Society says that being the baby of the family is the best and you get away with murder, which at times can be true. But, growing up as the youngest child has its perks and downfalls. Being the youngest, I think I speak for many when I say being the youngest comes with lots of pressure. Constantly feeling like you are being compared to your siblings and we all know the phrase “you have some big shoes to fill” very well. Having older siblings means:

1. You are often spoken over or interrupted

Family dinners are always a constant battle to get your two cents in. Your siblings unintentionally interrupt your stories or talk about your jokes. That’s okay, this just helps you grown and find your voice.

2. You get to do cool things at a younger age

This is definitely a perk of being the youngest. Getting a phone, a later curfew, piercings etc. your older siblings have worn your parents in. Nothing is more satisfying hearing a sibling say “I didn’t get to do that when I was that age.”

3. You will forever own the middle seat in the back of the car

Long family road trips are always the worst. You are always squished in that middle seat in the back of the minivan with bags at your feet and no wiggle room. Your siblings snitch to your parents when you lean on them too much or unbuckle to try and catch a few winks.

4. You have more than just 2 parents

You are constantly being watched. If you do something wrong, you hear about it not only from your parents but from your older siblings. They are older so they think they have a right to yell at you as if they have not ever made the same mistake. This isn’t forever I promise, this fades as time goes on.

5. You get hand me downs

Nothing is new and nothing is completely yours. Having siblings, you get all the best hand-me-downs and it is a constant war of stealing clothes from one another. As much as we hate to admit it, we love getting clothing that use to be our siblings. We complain, yes; however, our siblings are the people we look up to most. Getting the clothes that use to be theirs definitely makes us feel cooler than we actually are.

6. You typically don’t get punished as much

Yes, everyone knows the baby of the family can do no wrong. Not true. We mess up, we fail, we get caught etc. just by the time we make the mistakes our siblings have; our parents have just realized that it’s part of being a kid. Do parents still get mad? Of course, but they know grounding us or yelling at us isn’t effective and they learned that through our older siblings.

7. You are always known as “so and so’s” younger sibling

This one is probably the best and the worst about being the youngest. In school, we can’t help but feel badass when one of our sibling’s friends says hi to us in the hallway. We walk the halls with confidence knowing that if anyone was to ever mess with us, we have siblings just a few floors away who will always back us up. However, having teachers constantly mix up you and your sibling's names is unbelievably frustrating.

I could write a novel about pros and cons of being the youngest sibling. You’ve probably heard all of these before. As this just scratches the surface on what it means to have older siblings. Here are some things people don’t realize.

8. You have a therapist 24/7

Need a shoulder to cry on? Need someone to pick up the pieces of your broken heart? Need someone you can vent to? You have multiple therapists also known as your siblings. They are older and most likely have felt and experienced what you are going through. They can give you advice on things you wouldn’t dare ask your parents.

9. You have the best friends that are with you for a lifetime

Growing up the age gap between siblings is so very evident. However, as time progresses you become more of a group of friends than siblings that fight all the time. You will always have someone to go with you to run errands or watch a movie with. Siblings are people you go to when your parents just don’t understand. They are your biggest fans in the stands and your best of friends.

10. No one will ever hurt you and get away with it

As much as siblings have lots of laughter and tears but no one gets to make you cry. Yes, being the baby everyone is very protective of you. Telling off ex-boyfriends or giving your ex-bestie the stink eye in the halls. Your siblings always have your back and are looking out for you at all times.

11. You have people to buy the good stuff you’re technically not allowed to have

Take what you want from this, but having older siblings means they turn certain ages before you do. Which you can definitely use to your advantage if you play your cards right. They can buy you stuff as long as if you get caught it is not linked back to them. At this point, you realize that your older siblings are actually pretty cool.

12. You have brutally honest opinion at all times

That’s too much makeup, that dress is too short, that shirts too tight. No, you were in the wrong and need to apologize. You constantly have brutally honest opinions, your siblings are willing to tell you that you are wrong or look like a fool before others get the chance to. They help you see what is wrong and help you fix it.

13. You have people who help cover your ass when you f*ck up

Getting caught with beer under your bed, sneaking out past curfew, or getting caught with a fake I.D. Your siblings are indefinitely your partners in crime and always have your back. No matter how sticky the situation they always are with you trying to find a way to help you out of it.

14. You have people who love you when you forget to love yourself

Staying up late, overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions; Down on your luck and losing faith. You have the most amazing cheerleaders on the sideline, reminding you that you can do anything you put your mind too. They remind you that you are so unbelievably loved, even without saying it.

Being the baby of a family is definitely a blessing and a curse but it is probably what I am most thankful for. I have three amazing blessings I like to call my siblings, and to them, I say Thank You.