There is the age-old argument, is it better to be the oldest or the youngest of the family? Well, you'd be lying to yourself if you answered the oldest. Here are 10 prominent reasons why younger kids rock.
1. We always have someone to go to.
When you're the oldest, you have to go through the motions and learn how to grow up on your own. If you're the youngest, you can ask your brother or sister advice on what to do for your first date, how scary high school really is, how to make friends, how to deal with mom & dad, etc. I asked my brother to help me with my homework and to tell me what to say if I was in a fight with a friend all the time. Having someone know what we're going through makes life less stressful.
2. We get in less trouble than our sibling(s).
If my brother snuck out or didn't make it back in time for curfew, hell froze over. If I snuck out, which I did, I rarely got caught and sometimes my brother even helped cover for me. My brother got in a car wreck after getting his license and my parents were livid. They took his car away and he had to pay for the damage himself. Now, when I got in my minor side-sweep on the highway, my mom & dad were just glad I was safe and I didn't have to get my car fixed! (I still have the dent in my bumper to this day). I got away with so much stuff; it was amazing.
3. We receive a more laid-back parenting style.
I received a cell phone at age 12 - my brother, on the other hand, had to wait until 15. We also were taught how to ride bikes at the same time, despite our 3 year age gap. My mother was worried about him hurting himself or crashing, but with the youngest child? "Eh, it's just a scrape; she'll get over it." Super psychotic mothers are worried about doing everything right with their first baby, but the second one just naturally comes easier.
4. We are more observant.
Sitting back and watching my brother play with toys, bake with my mom, and play on the swing-set made me a visual learner. Before I tried anything, he would always be my first thought: What would Justin do?
5. What is yours, is ours as well.
If mom or dad gave the oldest a scooter or a game console for Christmas, you best believe the youngest has rights to use it, too. That trampoline in the backyard may be for older children, but I watched how you climbed up on it - since I'm so observant - and "monkey see, monkey do".
6. The youngest is more independent.
Once the sad time in life comes where siblings graduate high school and move on to college, it leaves the youngest at home with just the parents. My brother goes to a school that is 4 hours away and it made me realize once I hit age 18 that I've never gone a day without my brother, but when I first wasn't around, he had survived without a little sister growing up. I took this as wanting to be strong just like him for 'leaving the nest' & I was someday going to grow up like my role model.
7. We are compared to the oldest child & in most cases, it makes us look better.
I have always been a straight A student, where my brother always came in around the C-D range. I had the same math teacher in high school as Justin and he looked at me and said, "Taylor. As in, Justin Taylor's little sister?" I told him yes and I'll never forget what he asked me: "Does this mean you're going to sit in the back and throw paper airplanes at me when I'm teaching and get D's on your tests?" I told him no and made it my personal goal to be the smartest and most polite student anyone could be. First test: got 105%. Mr. Kiser looked at me like I was the greatest thing on earth since microwavable popcorn. Short story is, I was always looked at in a better light than my brother because of my ability to pass him up in everything.
8. We have someone to drive us around until we are old enough.
All those years our big brothers or sisters had to be embarrassed by mom... not us! "Sorry mom, but I think I'll ride with Justin to school. Thanks anyway!"
9. We are the babies of the family.
Our parents finally stopped having children because we are the prized possession that they've always wanted. No one can take that title away from us.
10. We are the most optimistic, loving, and empathetic.
Need I say more?
