Being the youngest of the family has some serious perks doesn’t it?
My youngest is now 2 1/2, and I laugh all the time about how different his toddler years have been than his older siblings’. I’m a different mother to him than I was with my oldest – this I know for sure. But he’s also a completely different child than my oldest was at this age – not only because he’s a different person, but because he’s exposed to so much more than my oldest one was. It’s amazing – I spent so much time “exposing” my oldest to all the “right” information; but now with the youngest, I am so busy keeping up with the others, I’ve suddenly found he’s “educated” in a different way. Hmmm…kinda like book smarts vs. street smarts? Whatever – all I know is that my oldest at age 2 would NEVER be able to claim any of these on this list.
You know you’re the baby of the family when you (at age 2):
– Know the term “cut the cheese” doesn’t always mean cheddar.
– Constantly ask when your siblings will be home from school.
– Assume Legos come in random piles – never in sets – and Barbies are naked – never perfectly dressed.
– Keep reminding mom who to pick up or what sibling she might be forgetting.
– Skip over baby toys and head straight to Nerf guns or full-size American Girls.
– Are the fastest runner – gotta keep up with the big kids.
– Are the toughest, but the quickest to cry – probably because there are many arms ready to hug you.
– Are the carpool’s mascot.
– Open your lunchbox and see peanut butter crackers, Goldfish, and pretzels. Obviously, Mom just gave up.
– Only wear designer kids clothes from 6 seasons ago – when your oldest sibling was a baby. Same goes for bikes and scooters – shiny, new bike? No way – yours is the equivalent to a 1995 Honda Civic – loads of miles, but reliable.
– Know the rules of UNO.
– Think you can totally do the rock wall at Inner Peaks – without harnesses – and actually probably could if it wasn’t for that silly legal waiver thing.
– Know that the best naps are always in the car.
– Have no clue soccer and other activities start at age 2 for some kids (and that they did for your oldest sibling).
– Hardly know what a new book looks like. Your favorites are tattered and torn copies of Goodnight Moon and Snugglepuppy from years ago.
– Can play every car game and stay competitive.
– Had your first swig of a juice box at 8 months at your older brother’s birthday party and never looked back.
– Can make the entire family laugh at the dinner table.
– Know the words to the chorus of “Gangham Style” and “Sexy and I Know It” – but not necessarily “Twinkle Twinkle” or “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
– Have no idea Mom used to get in the pool with your older siblings – back in the day before Puddle Jumpers were invented.
– Think every kid spends his Saturday shuffling from one sporting event to the next.
– Snicker when you realize you will probably be the most well-adjusted of all your siblings despite the lack of one-on-one attention.
There’s my list – what’s on yours? What has totally amazed you about the difference between your oldest and youngest child?
3 comments
The pool thing is so true. I don’t really need to put on a swimsuit; I never get wet because I don’t actually get in the pool. I hope the Puddle Jumper peeps are gazillionaires. They deserve it.
My baby of 5 kids just turned 2 last week, she….
Has been fixing her own breakfast for months.
Thinks she is the boss of everyone else.
Has a keen understanding of how things work & what tools are required for a particular job…like bringing the {big} scissors to me when they will be required to open something she wants.
Who says Squinkies don’t make great teething toys?
“No, MINE!” & “My turn, MY TURN!” were some of her first words!
You have a great list, very fun!!!!
Ha ha! Melanie, I love that she fixes her own breakfast – I need to work on that one over here! 🙂 Yes, MY TURN is big here, too – that one is definitely on my list, too! Love it.
~ Cheryl