If you’re the youngest kid in your family, you probably remember all too well what it was like growing up being treated like the baby of the family. While it was sometimes frustrating to feel like decisions were being made without you or that you needed people to protect you all the time, there are also considerable upsides to being the youngest child, many of which extend even into adulthood.
1. You learned tons from your older siblings.
While you obviously learned a lot from your parents, as the youngest sibling, you could always turn to your older brothers and sisters for advice and see how they did things before testing them out for yourself. They went through most of your life experiences ages ago, so they can give you feedback and guidance for how to move forward.
2. You could get away with more stuff.
Your parents were probably harder on your older siblings because they tried out their disciplining and parenting methods on them. By the time you came around, they’d fine-tuned their approach and had probably chilled out a bit. As a result, they probably weren’t as tough on you as they were on your siblings.
3. You could slip under the radar.
When you did something out of line, sometimes your parents would blame your older siblings. They might’ve done this because they thought your older brother or sister was leading by example. The upside to this is that you could do what you wanted and not get in trouble — as long as they didn’t rat you out, that is!
4. You were spoiled.
You didn’t have to buy lots of stuff you needed or wanted beecause you had all your siblings’ hand-me-downs, from their cell phones to their clothes. You were given tons of stuff that your older brothers and sisters didn’t have access to when they were growing up, which was pretty cool.
5. You’re always the baby of the family.
While it can be annoying at times, there are perks to being the youngest of the family. Even in adulthood, your parents see you as their baby, so they’re probably more lenient to you or open to helping you when you need it. They might even be extra nurturing or give you more attention because you’re still their little one after all these years.
6. You feel youthful at family events.
As the youngest one in the family, you always get to feel like you’re eternally youthful because everyone else is older. Hey, age doesn’t matter and all that, but you can’t deny it sometimes feel good to not be going through the life changes your siblings are. You’ll get there eventually, but for a while, you get to stay a kid.
7. You’ve learned to push yourself to succeed.
If your older siblings were always chasing straight As or hockey awards at school, you probably felt motivated by their stories to achieve in your own life. Maybe you’d see them doing cool stuff like getting into college or getting their first job and you couldn’t wait to follow in their footsteps. They’re a huge source of inspiration, that’s for sure.
8. You’re an amazing listener.
Being the younger sibling can be tough at times, like when your older siblings are talking so much you can’t get a word into any conversation. On the bright side, this has made you more patient and a better listener, which comes in handy in all of your relationships in life.
9. Your older siblings are always fighting for you.
No matter how old you get, your older siblings will always have your back. If someone upsets you or tries to push you around, they’ll be there to help you out of sticky situations. You just have to call them or use your puppy eyes and they’ll be there protecting you. It’s so comforting to know there’s always someone in your corner.
10. You can learn from your siblings’ mistakes.
By watching what your siblings did as they got older before you, you learned a lot about life and what not to do. This has helped you sidestep many upsetting or disappointing situations in life, perhaps much more than an only child. It’s also a gift that keeps on giving throughout your life since they’ll always be at least a few steps ahead.
11. You’re quick-witted.
Having older siblings who were always teasing you and giving you a hard time was annoying when it happened, but it helped you to become less sensitive, build a thick skin, and learn quick retorts to upsetting questions to give you the upper hand.
12. Your siblings’ cool friends became your friends.
By being around your siblings and their friends, you could mingle with the cool crowd even if they did see you as the annoying younger brother/sister. Even now, maybe some of your siblings’ friends are in your social circle, which is awesome because you have friends of all ages.
13. You never had to wait for a ride.
Your parents weren’t always around to give you a ride to the library or your friends’ houses, but that’s okay — you had your older siblings who’d just got their first cars and wanted to ride around town. You were the envy of all your friends, who were walking down the sidewalk while you were cruising by in your big bro’s/sister’s car.
14. You might be healthier in some ways.
An interesting study found that older siblings are more prone to getting food allergies than younger siblings. Scientists think one of the reasons for this is that multiple pregnancies affect the mother’s immune system. Nothing has to stand between you and your food!
15. You make friends easily.
Because you were always exposed to your siblings and their friends growing up, you sharpened your social skills from an early age. Making friends as you grew up and became an adult was much easier for you. Just another reason why you’re winning.
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