If I told you that I was the end of all punchlines of the family, always the one to get injured the most, and was the child that was instructed to "test out" the homemade go-kart ride, would you be able to guess where I place in sibling order?
To those of you guessed the last, you’re pretty average at sibling facts. And if you said I was the last born out of all brothers, then you must know me or be in the exact same situation as me.
Being the “baby” of the family NEVER ENDS!
Although, it can seem like the worst sometimes, God created the youngest child of the family to have many different superhero-like qualities. These strengths of the baby are not always seen, but you are about to learn how the last born child can be a grand finale for the household.
The cave-diver - As we built our patio, my brothers tossed my 6 year old-self into the foundation holes in the ground that were a foot deeper than I was tall. 4 years later while touring a battleship in North Carolina, USA, I was put into a large opening on a plane that was clearly not for humans while my brothers posed for a picture while standing around me.
Some may look at this and be curious why this is even important. No, this is not a harassment tool from the older siblings, but rather a needed task that the youngest is able to perform. As the official cave-diver of the children, your role in this is to find any faults in holes that were dug or to explore the surroundings with a truly deeper look into all the types of 'caves' you encounter.
The stooge - From the age of probably 5 or 6 till present life, I have taken on the names of ‘butter-ball Benny’, ‘stinky’, ‘swollen’, ‘tink’, and even a very sarcastic one known as ‘big man on campus’. My brothers will forever make fun of me for my head being a target for bird poop and hard surfaces.
Well, this sounds rough for the youngest child, right? Yes, but once the age of adulthood sets in, these jokes reveal that you are actually giving your brothers so much confidence. Do you really think that only their hard work has gotten them this far? Are you kidding? You are their main source of success. All of those jokes and brutal stories that embarrass you is what keeps them going, and gives your parents a sense of sanity as well.
The stunt-double- When we were younger, my brothers created a show called, "The World of Extreme Sports". During this, my acting career consisted of being the highlight reel of the worst falls in extreme sports. I had to propel myself off multiple ramps on my roller blades being sure to crash in different ways each time for the comedic relief of the show.
How awful that they do this to me! However, as the baby, you must fulfill this role! All the home movies will be so sad and hard to watch without these amazing, Oscar-award winning falls by you. Old home videos need this relief, otherwise nobody would bring them back out 10 years later.
The tear-jerker- As my parents met with me after high school graduation, saw me after church when I spoke to the congregation about my mission trip, and left me at the door of my dorm room for college, there were red, wet, tear-filled eyes and cheeks from them. Even as I approached him in the airport and 4 days later left my brother after visiting him in Arizona, tears were running freely between the two of us.
This is by far one of the most powerful and possibly-abusive youngest sibling powers you can hold. It is so powerful in a couple ways: this can bring a bond between family members together or start to use a relationship in the wrong way. Through love, it can really unify you through really great times and in the hardest of times. As you grow, mom and dad get more emotional as you are the final trial to make it to adulthood. If abused wrongly, you can use this to get your way. The end result = a 30 year old who lives with his parents in the basement because they relied on their tears too much. Nobody cries for you then, do they?
As the youngest in the family, we are vital components. We are more than the final child “bonus chip” in “The Game of Life” that wins the game. Keep on keepin’ on ‘Momma’s babies’.
