Growing up as the Youngest Child

 

If you’re the youngest child in your family, you know I’m not lying when I say you grew up being ordered around or doing lots of favors around the house.

“Get the remote”

“Bring a glass of water”

“Get my keys from upstairs”

“Feed the dog”

These are some of the hundreds of minimal tasks that you are acquired to attend to. I guess it’s easy being said so because you are the easiest to tell around from all your elders in the house.

I’ve attended to who knows how many of these tasks/orders. Growing up as the youngest child of three, I was of course bound to follow orders from my two elder brothers besides my parents. I cannot say I wasn’t exasperated at times.

“Why am I always the one being bossed around?” I would cross my arms and frown.

And haven’t you worn clothes passed down by your siblings if you’re the youngest in the family? Been there and done that, haven’t we?

You were also more likely to complain during your younger days because no one listens to your opinion. You are the youngest; your opinion was most likely taken for granted on big decisions. And then there was of course, being told that you were adopted.

The order of your birth is also more than likely to affect your nature, or so I’ve heard. The eldest is more responsible in nature while the youngest is more childish. And the middle child is very social and carefree in character. This is generalizing, of course and it is not necessary that this applies to everyone. But it applies to me, to some context. Yes, I am kind of childish in nature. So that’s the story of growing up as the youngest child. You have to follow around a lot of orders. You wear clothes passed down by your siblings. And you had to voice your opinion a lot. But just like everything else, there are some perks to this of course. You get everyone’s love, you are tended to. You are possibly shielded from any harm that could come your way. And more than likely to be spoilt with little things. While I was the ultimate wrestling partner to throw around for my brothers, I am also the apple of their eye.

So when you keep such perks in mind do all the tasks, the orders, the fooling and teasing matter? If you grew up as the youngest child in the family, you realize how lucky you are without me having to say it for you.