This one goes out to my fellow baby brothers or sisters:
When you're a younger sibling, you don't just mesh into a family structure. No, you've signed up for a full on job. By definition, a younger sibling is held accountable to be cute, innocent and extremely annoying. We are called to throw off responsibility, order and maturity, and pursue adorable mischief, adorned with second-hand-clothing.
The first rule of being a younger sibling is that you must accept the hand-me-downs. From clothes, to furniture, to toys, to bedding, you get the stuff your brother or sister out-grew, whether you like it or not. On the other hand, your long history of accepting leftovers may have made you more charitable and content.
Another note-worthy point is that younger siblings tend to be the innocent babies we know we are. Broke Mom's favorite vase? No problem. Those big eyes and confused face should do the trick. Drew on the walls? They'd better post that comical art piece of Facebook! The older ones get frustrated, trying to explain to your parents how bad you've been. All you can do is giggle at the gift of cuteness you have been given.
As the baby, you are constantly fondled over by your parents. It may be their way of turning back time to play with their precious, young child, but you're not complaining. The attention gives you the upper hand in seeking an alliance with Mom and Dad.
What about being annoying? Arguably one of the most crucial jobs a younger sibling has, the art of annoyance is by far most strategic and valuable. In order to maintain hours worth of amusement, we must find what makes the older sibling itch. A good poking, whiny voice, mocking or messing up of his or her stuff are excellent examples. No matter the deed, always make sure you run away really fast to avoid noogies, wedgies, kicks or other horrendous tortures.
Another wonderful truth about being the baby is that you have less chores than your brother or sister. It may be that you can't be trusted with the lawn mower, or might get hurt with the silverware. Whatever the case, you are free to a sigh of relief when cleaning day comes.
Lastly, when you are a younger sibling, you can't help but love your older brother/sister. They may seem like hard people to be with sometimes, but at the end of the day you look up to them, root for them, and desperately wish you could be like them. You remember when they were there for you, and you could never ask for a better sibling.
Don't be ashamed of being the "baby." Sometimes it can be really awesome. The younger sibling actually does have a very important job. We have to encourage the "adults" of the household, bring a little silliness in and remind others of the joy in life.
