Birth Right!
It’s been documented that birth order plays a vital role in a person’s potential success in life. I’ve learned the hard way, however, that “being the baby” hasn’t put me in the honored place that studies say I’m “entitled” to. I’m not spoiled; I’m not the princess of the family. I’ve had to work just as hard as my older brother and sister. In addition, sometimes—often—I’m just as much a leader as my first-born brother, and other times I’m lost in the shuffle just like my middle-child sister.
About the only thing that indicates that I’m the baby of the family is that my mom often calls me “baby.” But then again, I’ve heard my mom call my brother “baby,” my sister “baby,” and even my dad “baby.” (She just likes using this endearing term for all her “babies!) At times, however, I wish she would take the birth order studies to heart. I’d like to “get away with murder” once in a while, which is a privilege of being the youngest in the family!
Fortunately—or unfortunately—my siblings and I have been raised by parents who believe that each of us children should be given respect and responsibilities based on who we were/are and not when we were born. They expected all of us to be leaders to the best of our abilities. They expected all of us the share in household responsibilities to the best of our abilities. It was rare for them to even consider gender an issue. My brother had to do his laundry and make his lunch and my sister and I had to share in doing outdoor chores. One of the most special things that our parents did was to have special time—one parent and one child—with each of us. I did just as many things with my dad as my brother. My brother did just as many things with my mother as my sisters and I did.
But darn! It would have been nice—for me—if I had a little more attention…a few more gifts…a little more leeway when I goofed up…a few less tasks around the home…etc., just because I was the baby of the family. That is my birth right…right?