My little brother is going to UPenn. My little sister is an honors student. And then, there's me. By default, I am the "lesser" child.
Does that sound familiar? It's going to be OK because here are some perks to being your family's lesser child.
1. You get more sleep!
My brother strolls in at 1:30 a.m., and my parents give him a big hug. I stroll in at 1:30 a.m., and my parents threaten to take away my car and my debit card. Being the lesser child teaches you to come home earlier. So hey, you get to catch up on "Orange Is The New Black" and eat Oreos in the comfort on your own home.
2. You get your room checked more often!
Alcohol is a big no-no in my household. So, when my parents found my main man Jose Cuervo hanging out in a bin in my room, they resorted to checking my room every day. Therefore, they called me out on my disorganization and helped me become a more organized person. Neither of my siblings have done such a thing, making me the star of the family! Thanks Mom and Dad!
3. You spend less money!
Since my brother has proven to be the more competent child, my parents let him have a credit card. I, on the other hand, have recently graduated to a restricted debit card — forcing me to decrease my purchases. I had my credit card seized because the bill was four times as big as my spending limit, but hey, those clothes were sincerely worth it! Now, I am on a large and in charge budget, and I’m proud. Got to love being the lesser child!
4. Your safety is still of utmost importance!
My parents still give me a curfew of 11 p.m. on weekdays because my safety is still important to them. But my brother comes home at midnight every night without a word from my parents. Being a girl and a lesser child is a double no-no. Apparently I can’t defend myself from the 11 p.m. and later crowd that roams my sleepy beach town. Lucky me, I get to miss out on some of those summer nights the pop stars love to sing about! Great, thanks Mom and Dad!
5. You get more responsibility!
My parents love to give me more responsibility to enhance my lesser child status. Since I’m home for the summer, my three dogs are now my three new best friends. I take them on walks three times a day, and I love to lunch with them. Ground turkey and liver really makes me salivate and makes my stomach growl. I love taking long drives to drop them off at their hair dressing appointments, while my siblings are at the beach. My siblings are off hanging with friends, while I get to be the dog’s personal assistant. I’m lucky to view my dog Leo’s new haircut up close and personal. But hey, at least my parents will still pay for my gas! Thanks Mom and Dad!
With all its perks, and in all its glory, being the lesser child doesn't brand you with a Scarlet Letter for life. There is still a chance to be a better student and to be a better and more respectful daughter or son. We learn from our mistakes, and we move on to become the greatest people we can be.
