Siblings provide the dynamite in family dynamics. All that jockeying for position means that somebody has to come out on top. In our experience, that numero uno position can change daily or even hourly, but we will concede that some spots definitely carry with them an inherent advantage. Here are some reasons it’s awesome to be the baby of the bunch, especially a super-sized one like Erin’s.
1. The Last Firsts
Every moment is precious. Your parents may have seen “this” time and time and time again, so nothing is new here. But older is wiser. These moments are fleeting and they give the moment its proper due. This usually means that Mom and Dad are moved enough to douse an occasion, like First Communion, with a heavy dose of sentimentality, but not necessarily so moved as to spring for some proper attire or to schedule a haircut.
EXHIBIT A:
This would never happen to a first born.
2. Parents are more chill.
Having been there there and done that a time or five means that they seriously can barely muster a look let alone a sweat for the small stuff, so you get off a lot easier than your trail blazing siblings. They allow your hair to grow past your ears, don’t lose it when you leave your luggage behind, and have been known to let you scavenge for your own dinner. Need more proof? See EXHIBIT A. The good news for you is that they probably will barely notice that you haven’t brushed your teeth in three days. Leave it your siblings and close friends to bring that to your attention.
3. You appreciate the simple joys of life.
More kids means less cash. Your parents’ jet-setting days went away about the same time they invested in that second fridge to keep your brothers fed. This means one thing: YOU get excited when you get to go to a hotel pool.
4. You have a built-in fan base.
You travel with your entourage. Sure, they may turn on you once in a while but they always come back and love on you or at least include you in their goofy antics.
5. You get to be part of all the big moments long before you ever have to go through them.
Homecoming, Prom, Graduation, check. And that’s all before third grade.
6. Being along for the ride means you get to do really cool stuff.
If your parents actually kept a baby book for you, it would be chock full of adventures a kid thrice your age would be lucky to have. Ever see a two year old on the Appalachian Trail or a three year old on a mountain summit or a four year old tubing at 65 miles per hour? Chances are that lucky kid was a younger sibling not just soaking up the fun but getting a chance to try bold, brave adventures long before other kids their age.
7. You are never alone in this world—literally or figuratively.
Whether you are facing fierce monsters, fighting neighborhood bullies, or traveling through troubled waters, you can rest assured your people will carry you through whatever scares, threatens, or worries you.
8. You are never more than five minutes from fun.
The fun never stops. Yep, you party like a Rockefeller or a Whovian. In any case, you are primed and ready for fun in any shape your people are laying down.
9. You have a lot more freedom.
You aren’t just catching adventures early. You are exposed to movies, media, and culture much earlier than those that came before you. One of the reasons is that your tired but wise parents realize that some of those hard lines they drew for the others were nonsense. But in many other cases, they just came to acknowledge the hard truth that there is just no way to control the rich learning environment that older siblings provide. Wise parents hope that putting in the hard time with the older ones has a trickle down effect and wish/hope/light-candles-weekly-in-church/pray that the family lab produces a masterpiece and not a Frankensibling.
10. You always have a hand to hold.
Feeling lonely? Bored? Anxious? Just reach out. You’ve got people and they are right there.
11. Flexibility is your middle name and super power.
You can get your homework done in bleachers, you can eat dinner in the back of the minivan, and you can catch some ZZZs on a blanket in a closet. People may call you lots of things, but rigid will never be one of them.
12. You keep us real.
The tweens and teens may think they are too cool for strawberry patches and cartoons, but the sheer nature of your existence removes any guile and lets us all indulge the little kids we all secretly wanna be. They might never tweet or instagram about those cheesy kid movies you watch together but secretly they don’t mind them at all.
13. The last shall be first.
Front and center of all the family fun, the baby is in many ways the most powerful creature in the family universe. On bad days, you may feel like you are always running to catch up, but focus on all these really good things about being the family caboose. The truth is that you slow us down in the best possible ways. You make us kinder, gentler, more considerate people because we have to think about your needs. You get all of the best and worst we have to offer and are using all that ammo/info/love to help you grow into somebody really special.
But we’ll try to stop calling you the baby. Them’s fighting words.
-Erin
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Check out our books, “I Just Want to Be Alone” and “You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth.”
