Being the youngest means all your wants are met. Being the youngest means you’re slightly more privileged than your other siblings.

Being the youngest means no one wants to play with you. Being the youngest means getting hand-me-downs. Being the youngest means eating alone at the dinner table. Being the youngest means you aren’t heard. Being the youngest means that your problems aren’t big enough to be a problem. Being the youngest is being expected to grow up but never being treated like you grew up. Being the youngest means everyone leaves.

Being the youngest sucks.

I am the youngest. I and many others have lived through this. Your kids in the future might live through this. Your grandkids might live through this. But why are the youngest siblings treated as they are?

Although I’m grateful for the opportunities and privileges I have been given, I want to be heard. I want to be seen. More often than not, younger siblings are overlooked. And I’m sure many other people who are the youngest feel the same. We are interrupted, pushed to the side, seen as too immature, and told that we just won’t understand. Our opinions are never taken seriously.

Some of you are probably reading this thinking: “They don’t have it as hard as we do,” or “try being ___.” Case in point, that is the problem. Our complaints are overlooked all the time.

I am aware that the oldest child has struggles, everyone does, but why does nobody talk about the struggles of being the youngest? Our feelings are swept under the rug, piling up until they accumulate into a big rug bump of emotions that we aren’t allowed to feel because the youngest sibling shouldn’t have any problems, apparently. The youngest is supposed to be happy, lucky, and free. We are, but that doesn’t mean we are all the time. The contrast between our wants and the expectations others have for us don’t mesh.

Look at your child, your younger sibling, and please, listen to them. If they try to talk, give them the time. If they want to spend time with you, spend time with them. Because we don’t have time. There is only so much time until our older sibling goes to college and moves out until we are the only one left. It isn’t hard to just listen, to just see. So please, try to not ignore your youngest child or sibling.

And to all the people in the same boat, trust me, you aren’t alone.