The "Baby" of the Family

Yes, that is our family and yes I am that cute little baby girl. We look something like the Waltons don't we.

I could hardly wait to get to this one – the last born or the baby of the family. In today's society this is often the second child with so many families having only two children.

Dr. Lemen say’s the babies are the world’s cheerleaders. They usually have great people skills and love to entertain. This is because they have always had an audience and they usually have the least responsibility in the family so they have time to be fun.

They make friends easily and are good at making people feel at home. Last borns are also more likely to take risks – probably because they get bored quickly. They also fear rejection and have a fairly short attention span.

The babies are often charming, friendly manipulators who have a large desire to make their mark on the world. They are also rather absentminded and tend to have real highs and lows. People oriented jobs are best for them and they make great salespeople.

Last-borns can be cocky and they don’t worry about the after-effects of their actions or decisions. While they are uncomplicated and affectionate, they can also be rebellious, temperamental, spoiled and impatient.

Many last-borns capitalize on their position as smallest and weakest by elevating helplessness to a high art. They learn that they don't have to do housework, for example, if they can get others to do it for them. As adults, they may have difficulty keeping track of commitments and finishing what they start. Playing the "baby card" also allows them to avoid the consequences for wrongdoing, for example, breaking a sibling's toy.

Other youngest children, however, refuse to accept the helpless label. Instead, like determined terriers, they grab hold of a position and just hang on. The years of sticking up for themselves against the might of their older siblings prepares these children for careers as successful advocates, often championing the cause of -appropriately enough--the underdog.

This birth order could benefit by learning to be neat, accepting more responsibility, be less self-centered and admit their faults without blaming others.

Mmmmm, as a last born I can say there is a lot of truth to all that, thank goodness for God’s grace in our life. J

For more information about last borns go to: http://birthorderandpersonality.com/id3.html

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalm 139:13, 14