How to Cope With Being the Youngest in the Family

Being the youngest member of the family can be a blessing given that the baby of the family is typically spoiled and parents have often become desensitized to behavior that was frowned upon in older siblings. However, being the youngest can also prove to be a bit of a curse. Downsides include being ignored, being precisely babied when least desired and becoming either too shy and square compared to bold older siblings or too bold, wild and in general veering from the good example set by model older siblings.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. While parents, on the one hand, become desensitized to big events or accomplishments that the elders got so much credit and cooing, on the other hand, they do indeed become desensitized to behavior such as breaking curfew. The third graduation, wedding or first child may not be as lauded as the first. Hang in there. Your youngest status never goes away and no matter how much you mature, you’re still the baby. Learn to not just cope but enjoy it by realizing how many perks there are. For example, you’ll be the last child to leave the house so you’ll have plenty of face-time and attention given to you just as your parents have become seasoned and softened by raising the older sibs.

2. Don’t perpetuate your baby-of-the-family status with babyish behavior. Try not to become settled or, worse, complacent in your place. Let your older siblings imbibe in you maturity so that you are not only the “youngest” but quite precocious. Whenever you feel the urge to complain, whine or wallow in your lowly place, elevate yourself and become noticed with interesting comments at the table, impressive hobbies and skills honed and general likeability.

3. Learn from your older siblings’ good behavior but stand out from them. You don’t always have to play the same sports, vie for the same club awards or have the same kind of friends. Find your interests by trying new things rather than letting the tide of the past or your parents’ influence pull you in certain directions.

4. Relish in the fact that even as you all age over the years, you’ll always be the member of the family who, as a member of the younger generation, will have an edge over the older siblings when it comes to cool bands, fashion, extreme sports and pop culture at large.

5. Realize that the age gap that exists between you and older siblings will feel less and less large the older that you all get. Where hanging out with your older brother and his friends used to seem laughable and impossible, soon you might find it natural and acceptable to be perhaps dating one of them. Where visiting your older sister in college used to seem like the event of the year, soon she’ll feel psyched to visit you in your fabulous apartment in the big city. Roles flip-flop and rifts often close.