So I just read this article.
I'm sure depending on your particular family situation, you are thinking "Yeah, that's exactly how it was in my house" or "Are you kidding! That wasn't the way it was at all!"
For me, I have to admit I was thinking the latter. When I tell people that I am the baby in the family. Some assume I was spoiled rotten and others, who actually know me, are pretty surprised. I don't think I fit this mold of being the irresponsible one who got her way all the time. But I admit, I probably have some baby-in-the-family tendencies.
I would say my mom was a bit easier on my brother and I, but not at first. We had to earn that trust because the older two were rebellion central - running away, drinking, possibly drug-taking and usually lying about where they were. Do I blame them? Well, yes and no. My mom was REALLY overprotective and controlling, so if they wanted freedom, the only way to get it was out the window. But there comes a point in your teenage years, I think, when you start evaluating your parents and making certain decisions on your own.
Did I ever consider using that window of escape? Definitely. But when I thought about it, I knew it wouldn't do any good. So, my brother and I decided to react a little differently than the older two. Give her what she wants most of the time, and when it really counts or is needed, argue your point. Considering my mom isn't really rational at all, this didn't work much. But hey, we tried.
My brother closer to me in age was kind of the favorite growing up. We all joke about it now and Mom tries to deny it, but we ALL know. On top of this, I got compared to my sister all the time - in a negative way. Which, honestly, wasn't fair to either me or her. But obladi, oblada - life goes on. So, I told my mom where I was going, when I was going there and who I would be with. Years later during a phone conversation, she told me I really was a good teenager. Better late than never, eh?
So I say all this to point out that just because someone is the youngest doesn't mean they are irresponsible or rebellious. More of a risk-taker? Maybe so. I mean, it was a risk to go to college with no help from family, but I think it paid off! And what are those baby-in-the-family tendencies? I think I like attention... but maybe that's a girl thing!
Are you the oldest? Are you the youngest? What's your story? Are you the responsible one, a risk-taker or a little of both? Tell me people. I'm interested!
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6 comments:
I am a kajillion times more responsible than my older sister (give or take a few billion) but I think that is entirely her doing. I felt I had to be the good child to make up for her antics.
I saw this same article today and thought, yep, that's how it was for us! I'm the well-behaved, rule-following older sister, and she's the rule-bending, independent younger sister. While I agree mostly with the tendencies of the children, I don't know if I think it was because my parents were harder on me. It doesn't seem like they were. I was just born an angel!
This article appears quite true for my family! But I am the middle child and that is a whole 'nother ball of wax!
Growing up, I was the responsible, rule-following older kid and my brother was the rebellious younger one. Oddly enough, our roles have switched now that we're older -- now my brother is a lot like my parents, while I am completely opposite in every way.
Of course, none of this will matter when my parents finally admit I'm adopted. I'm convinced it's true.
I see it a little of both ways with my older brother and me.
Growing up, I'm not sure either of us was held to higher standards, but we were both pretty self-motivated in terms of our schoolwork and good behavior. He did get fewer freedoms (e.g. going out with friends, getting a drivers license and car at an older age, having to fight hard on the question of moving away for college before eventually yielding to mom).
I just did those things as a matter of course, and mom was either tired of fighting or just didn't know how to respond on the second time around.
Risk-takers, though? Uh, I think that trait is completely absent from our gene pool.
I wish I'd been the younger child.
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