Dear precious youngest one (a.k.a. baby number five),
As I look around our bustling home, it becomes clear to me that I owe you an apology. Your parents are running on empty, and I’m sure you’ve picked up on that. Your older siblings have drained our energy, so what you’re getting from us is less than our best. There was a time when we strictly enforced bedtimes, resisted the urge to serve PB&J for dinner every night, and ensured that only G-rated movies were allowed. You don’t even know what you’re missing because those parents clocked out two kids ago.
Your life is a bit chaotic. With the older kids staying up late, you often find yourself awake too. I caught sight of you dozing on the couch last night at 10 p.m., while Star Wars played loudly in the background, and it hit me: shouldn’t you be in bed? But honestly, we were too worn-out to carry you up. Instead, I nestled beside you, holding you close and admiring your long lashes. I realize you’re already 5, and I probably stopped snuggling your siblings by this age, so I apologize. I just can’t help but hold on to you and your baby-ness for as long as possible. You seemed quite content, snuggling in until Dad finally picked you up for a quick stop in your own bed before you wriggled back into ours.
I’m sorry you have such a large entourage overseeing your every move. While your older siblings only had us to contend with, you’ve got all of them hovering around you. It must be overwhelming to be parented by six people at once. They all adore you—our sweet baby boy—and want to be involved in everything you do.
Before you turned 2, your poor feet barely touched the ground with everyone swooping in to carry you. Now, there’s always someone eager to hold your hand or help you reach the cotton candy I’ve stashed high on the fridge. You’re in high demand, and I know, sometimes it feels like “too much love.”
I’m also sorry about your wardrobe. While your older siblings had carefully curated outfits, you’re left with piles of clothes from the hand-me-down bin, often combined with random items I snagged during quick trips to Target. And yes, sometimes bits of old Halloween costumes make their way into the mix too. I’m too exhausted to make you change when you decide to wear your football uniform to school, so off you go.
We’re still trying to get you to put on your own shoes, but with so many helpers, it’s a work in progress. I’ve come to realize that parenting isn’t a race to see whose kid achieves milestones first. Honestly, I don’t care when you learn to tie your shoes—as long as you don’t need your college roommate doing it for you! I’m just grateful you can mostly dress yourself. You often rock your outfits, especially that Willy Wonka costume your sister gifted you for Christmas, so maybe your wardrobe isn’t such a loss after all.
I apologize for the fact that you know all the lyrics to “Baby Got Back” and have a favorite episode of The Office. We may have relaxed our standards on monitoring what you watch and listen to. In fact, you might be experiencing a childhood similar to that of the ’80s—like how we watched our mom’s soap operas. I suppose this could be called “retro-parenting.”
You’ve been exposed to so much more than your oldest sister was at your age. On the bright side, you’re likely to be the cool kid at lunch, unlike your eldest sister, who was clueless about the Kardashians in seventh grade. I apologize in advance if your efforts to enlighten the more sheltered kids in your class get you sent to the principal’s office. I might even show up to take the heat for you!
You are our last born, our grand finale, and the one thing we haven’t run out of is love. We’ve learned valuable lessons from raising your siblings about how fleeting time is, how quickly you’ll grow, and the importance of cherishing every moment. So, when we hug you a little too tightly, let you linger in your childhood a bit too long, and shower you with excessive affection, know it comes from the depths of our hearts. You will grow up surrounded by love, and while the PB&J dinners (and ice cream on occasion), questionable TV choices, and inconsistent bedtimes may not be perfect, they certainly won’t overshadow the fact that you are the last great love of our lives.
With all our love,
Your weary but adoring parents
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In summary, this heartfelt letter serves as a reminder of the unique challenges and joys of parenting the youngest child, acknowledging the changes that come with each new addition to the family. Through the chaos, the love remains constant, and the lessons learned from older siblings help shape a rich and affectionate environment for the youngest.
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