I can’t count the amount of times that someone has told me that I was spoiled, or that I had it easy just because I am the youngest child. Little do they know, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Being the youngest is hard, we face a unique set of challenges growing up that oldest children will never understand. I’m here to raise awareness for how difficult it can be to be youngest child, it’s still the best, but it’s not as easy as everyone thinks.

Pro: get spoiled.

The most obvious pro of being the youngest child is that your parents live to make you happy. They couldn’t take all four kids on cruises every year, but they can take one kid. As the youngest you live a life of luxury, you are treated as an adult, and are used to getting what you want.

Con: You Get Picked On… A Lot.

As a youngest child part of your job description is to be a punching bag for your siblings. It’s just the roles. Older siblings torment, and younger siblings have to take it.

Pro: All the attention.

You get all of your parents' attention. There’s no fighting your siblings for time with your parents. Because they probably love you the most.

Con: All The Attention.

You get ALL of your parents' attention. You don’t stand a chance of getting away with things, because they're always there, watching. They know where you are and what you’re doing. You’re also the one that gets to spend the most time with them.

Pro: Your Parents Don’t Care As Much.

Another pro is that, your parents have been through this before. They don’t think that every accident or mistake is going to ruin your life. Years of parenting have caused your parents to chill a little bit. You have it easier than the oldest child who has to be perfect, but not as easy as the middle child who’s often forgotten about.

Con: Your Siblings Parent You.

Your siblings grow up before you, and you watch as the brick wall of adulthood hits them. And then it starts, instead of joking around and laughing with your siblings, they start to parent you. Suddenly you’re getting life advice and morals. And you have to remind them, that you’re not their child, and they’re not that much older than you.

Pro: You Learn From Your Older Siblings.

Older siblings are a great tool to learn what not to do, and what to do. You learn how to get away with things and you see what gets them in trouble. So that later on, you know that sneaking out isn’t worth the ensuing punishments.

Con : Your Parents Have Learned From Your Older Siblings.

Even though your parents have relaxed, and you’ve learned some stuff from your siblings. Your parents have also learned from prior experience. They know what your siblings did, and they are ready to catch you doing it, They’ve wisened up. Your sister got a ticket within two days of getting her license, so you have to work 5x as hard to get your license. Basically, you have to pay for your siblings' mistakes.

Pro: You are super prepared for life.

As a youngest child you spend a lot of time around adults, you spend a lot of time strategizing (because that’s the only way you can beat your siblings), And you spend a lot of time learning from everyone else. And as a result you are way more prepared for the world, because you know what to expect, you’ve seen siblings go through this before. All the time that you spent with adults has developed you into a more competent adult. So live through the cons, and remember that being the youngest really is the best.