I’m going to be honest, being the baby of the family ROCKS and, because I am six years younger than my closest sibling, I didn’t have to deal with getting bullied by my older siblings at school or sharing hideous early ‘90s hand-me-downs. I have always fought the idea that the youngest have it the easiest of the siblings. I was always told that I “had it easy” and that my parents were much more lenient with rules and punishments than all my older siblings. I don’t know why it took me nineteen years to realize this but you guys made me the “cool younger sister” that I am today.

1. You guys taught me how to be “Cool”

From the first day I can remember, you were forcing me to memorize lyrics to Taylor Swift’s first album and helping me make up dances to “Hit Me Baby One More Time” in the family room. By exposing me to all of these “oldies” you set me up to be prepared for a life of feeling old when half of the people didn’t know that random throwback from 1995.

2. You made growing up easy

You guys made me grow up fast, and not in a bad way. Being the youngest of the group always forced me to TRY to act mature and act old enough to sit at the “big kid table” at family Thanksgivings. I looked up to you guys in everything you did and made me always want to grow up and be just as great as you. You always told me when my hair looked bad and my glasses made me look lame (shoutout, Christine) and, although I probably cried at the time, I am grateful for all of your insight both in and outside of the fashion world.

3. You guys were the test children for all of the rules and punishments of mom and dad

Let’s be real, this is the BEST thing you guys have done for me and some people might argue that this is the best aspect of being the baby of the family. Although I am sure you hated all of the times that you were grounded for months for going to a party (*cough cough* Jen) or getting in trouble for “poor grades,” I am forever thankful for you guys for that. Not just because Mom and Dad’s rules were much more generous than the rules you had to endure but you taught me how to behave like an actual human and not a crazy, misbehaved teen like I could have EASILY been (and I was pretty crazy, but nothing close to what I could have been). I learned from your mistakes and your successes and was inspired by your actions to strive to be as great as you.

4. You were amazing role models to me

I can’t even begin to count how many high school classrooms I walked into and heard, “Oh, YOU are the youngest Schufreider,” and I faintly laughed and said yes and probably rolled my eyes since it was said to me in nearly EVERY class I walked into. Especially you, Danny, when Mr. Quinn expected me to be just as bright and geographically-wise as you are. However, to most teacher’s dismay, I usually was nowhere near as intelligent and involved as you all were and teachers quickly learned that I was the free-spirited youngest sibling that us babies of the family usually claim to be.

5. I learned what it meant to be there for someone

My siblings are almost a decade older than me but, somehow, they ALWAYS seemed to be there for me. I will admit, it was hard to be close to your eighteen-year-old sister who was worried about high school drama when you were only eight and you were mostly focused on whether or not my mom would get me McDonald’s on the way to dance practice; however, as we all grew up, you guys were there for me more and more. As I finally became the self-proclaimed “mature young adult” I like to consider myself as I realized how close we all had become and how amazing it felt to finally be able to sit at “the big kid’s table” at dinner.

To my older siblings, and to all of the older siblings out there, thank you for forging the path for all of us babies out there. Although we may not say it, we are so grateful for being able to grow up with such amazing role models and to be able to strive to be as put-together and successful as you all. So, thank you for accepting me as the young adult I have become but always reminding me that I am still the baby and I always will be. Jen, Danny and Christine, thank you for forging the path for your crazy, carefree younger sister—you guys made me cool ;).

Cheers,

Carol