Being the youngest child has had many ups and downs. I'm not sure if there have been more ups or than downs, but what can you do about it?
1. Dating has been super tough.
Not only does your boyfriend or girlfriend have your parents' standards to live up to, but they have your older siblings' standards to live up to. Meeting parents can be scary enough, but add in an older brother or sister, and it seems almost impossible not to go in sweating (shout out to my boyfriend for surviving).
2. You're used to being pampered.
Who doesn't just want to hold, love on, and buy stuff for the baby of the family? You've got high expectations when it comes to little surprises and gifts for holidays (this also makes dating just a little tougher).
3. Hearing your older siblings complain that Mom and Dad love you more.
"Why does she get everything she wants? I didn't get to do that when I was her age." Need I say more?
4. You've heard "you're adopted" more than once.
Lord help you if you and your older sibling get into an argument, because they will most likely say you were adopted -- in every single argument. I'm not sure why they continue to say this, considering they almost always get in trouble if Mom or Dad hear.
5. You're constantly confused as to whether being the youngest is a blessing or a curse.
Who wants to be babied all the time, but then again, who doesn't want to be babied all the time?
6. The memories of being picked on are very clear.
It seems like it was always the funniest to everyone else if they poked, picked, tickled, threw and pinched the youngest one. Let me be the one to say it was not fun.
7. The good memories are always much clearer.
Combining your devilish mind with your older sibling's devilish mind to play pranks on your parents was always the best of times.
8. No more trial-and-error parenting.
Good or bad, Mom and Dad already knew how they wanted to parent and exactly what they expected of you. This means there was no, "Mom, can I have a little party tonight?" because she knew that when your older sibling asked, it turned into complete chaos.
9. Forever eating at the "kids' table."
Since you're always going to be seen as the baby of the family, you're almost always going to be at the kids' table. It's a special day when you get to sit with people who don't play with their food.
10. Being the last to leave.
Being the last one to leave "the nest" means that Mom and Dad are having an extra hard time letting go -- but, leaving is harder for you than you let on, too.
