As someone who has cousins ranging from six to more than ten years older than me, I'm an expert at being the baby of the family. If you're like me, your childhood was definitely a little different than theirs, and here are a few reasons why.
1. They started getting married and having kids when you were still in elementary school.
You may even be closer in age to some of your cousins' kids than your cousins.
2. You missed out on a lot of adventures because you were too little.
Your mom claimed that she was just trying to keep you safe, but the way you saw it was they had all the fun and you got left out.
3. They will forever see you as the baby.
You're still stuck in their minds in about third grade, and they refuse to believe that you're actually growing up.
4. They loved to tease you.
And torment you and tickle you... the list goes on.
5. And you loved to annoy them.
You weren't going down without a fight.
6. You got lots of hand-me-downs.
Your mom got pretty lucky because from cribs to clothes to toys she always had someone willing to pass something along.
7. They got to do everything first.
Cell phones, driving, college, weddings, you name it--by the time you got along to all of the big milestones, they were old news.
8. They talk about all of the fun things they did before you were born.
"Remember when..." No, I don't remember because I was not in fact alive yet or (to further #2) was too young to hang out with the "big kids".
9. You're secretly the favorite.
The baby's always the favorite, right?
10. You might have a little brain damage from getting dropped on your head as a child.
Because, after all, everyone wants to hold the baby.
11. They got stuck playing little-kid games with you.
But they were always good sports about it and went along with you.
12. They taught you a lot.
Some things were some pretty good life lessons, other things were what not to do.
13. You still have your big cousins looking out for you.
You may be almost an adult now, but that doesn't mean that your cousins have stopped looking out for their little cousin.
Your cousins may have seemed so much bigger than you when you were little, but now you're so thankful to have some pretty great friends.