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            Have you ever felt like you need to live up to your older siblings? Many kids feel that way. Parents look at their youngest child as the last chance to get everything right. This puts kids under pressure. Some children are also excluded from some activities their older brothers/sisters do.

            Some parents look at the youngest child as the last chance to do everything right. Kids may feel pressure to get good grades in school, to get in the same schools as their older siblings, etc. Lastborns are sometimes seen as the least capable of the family, because they seem so small. Kids may feel like their sisters or brothers are bossing them around. They hear things such as “Go get me something to drink”, “Get out of here”, etc. Parents might not have enough money to afford new things, so younger siblings get hand-me-downs. Older siblings might be involved in many activities so sometimes kids are expected to attend events, such as cheerleading competitions, sporting games, etc.

            Some kids get tired of always being called “the baby”. Being “the baby” gets kids excluded from most activities, because they’re too short or they’re too young or they’re parents just don’t want them to get hurt. Sometimes older siblings use their younger children. Many times younger children are like their older siblings’ “servants”. Older siblings will bribe their younger brothers or sisters into getting them something, like a bottle of water, that shoe you left in the other room or an apple from the kitchen. Those children might even be blamed in the end for something they didn’t do, like break the plate, break the window, or not cleaning their room, even though it wasn’t their responsibility, but their older siblings.

            Youngest children are constantly compared to their older siblings. They are told they have to be just like their older siblings. The same school, the same clothes, the same grades. This puts young children under pressure. They can’t live their lives the way they want to live them. This is the time children have to find out who they are, what they like, and what they want to accomplish in life. Parents see their last child as the last chance to do everything right. They feel like they learned from the mistakes with previous children and know enough to make their youngest one’s life better.

            Youngest children have to know that everyone in their family loves them and wants them to do great things in life. They don’t have to be like their older siblings unless they want to. They have to find their individual personalities and style, and not try to be like anybody else. You shouldn’t completely ignore your siblings. You should spend quality time with them. If you feel like your siblings are taking advantage of you, you should talk to your parents.

There are some advantages of being the youngest, though. You always have some toys to play with. You’re never really bored because you have your siblings to play with. Sometimes it can feel like they have it better. But you have to realize that your life is good too. It is good being an individual person. Some days you feel like you can’t live up to your siblings, but it shouldn’t matter if you could. Your parents still love you no matter what and as long as you know you tried your hardest, and you’re proud, you should be happy.