Birth Order/Sibling Dynamics

[NotabitaiI]

I share a room with The Siblings but I have monopolized the good spots.

Same, the only thing I didn't get to monopolize was the dressers, my sister had like three of them.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I think this is one of the reasons why I have my doubts about the birth order thing because the minute you have more than 3-4 kids or any age gaps all kinds of roles shift around. One of the more obvious ones would be how the youngest is treated, if you're the last one of 3 then you're probably the baby and your parents are more likely to coddle you or keep you held back a little, but the last one of 7...let's just say I've heard parents say really cruel things about "accidental" last kids that they never wanted and can't wait to be unburdened of.

In my eyes my youngest sibling did definitely get it "differently" but I don't think my parents intended to "hold anyone back" so it wasn't quite like that.

Yeah I see that in my own life, I'm a good deal older than my siblings and I can attest to the fact that my mother parents differently in each stage of her life with each different kid. Plus there's too many of us for each one to get the same treatment at each phase in development.

My parents have been raising kids for something like 40yrs and counting... I'd like to see anyone stay that consistent Many of us are also very aware that there's additional factors as to why their parenting style changed. Kids aren't all the same and you NEED to adjust.

 

[NotabitaiI]

Kids aren't all the same and you NEED to adjust.

Trueeee, I would've completely run amuck if my mother parented me the same as some of my more sensitive siblings, I was a difficult child so what works for them wouldn't have worked for me, and if she treated them the same as me they would've been "crushed, like a grape"

I think it's important to be evenhanded but it's not good to do everything the exact same way with small people who are very individual.

 

[Eroica]

I'm oldest of three - youngest is 2 months old.

 

[Sally PB]

Youngest of 3. My brother and sister were sure I was "the spoiled one." Maybe it didn't dawn on them that I tried to be a good kid because that's what I thought I was supposed to be. Not getting in trouble was a good thing, in my book.

 

[MamaPoult]

Just curious to see what everyone's sibling dynamics are like
Apparently birth order is a huge indicator of personality, lifestyle, and future relationships. I definitely see how it affects my life but I don't think I personally fit all the oldest sibling stereotypes.

• What's your birth order?

Youngest

• Are you the stereotypical first/middle/youngest/only child?

Ig

• Are your siblings typical first/middle/youngest children?

Yesss

• Do you have a better relationship with one of them?

I have two big brothers. I'd say I have a closer relationship with the one who's closer in age to me. There's a 10 year age gap between me and the oldest lol

• Do you think your parents raised you all the exact same way?

Yeah, maybe a bit different bc I'm the only girl.

• What's your spouse's birth order and do you think it affects your relationship dynamic?

• Do your kids follow the usual sibling order stereotypes?

These questions don't apply to me lol

 

[TXchickmum]

Birth order: youngest, brother
is 7.5 years older

Not stereotypical youngest

Brother is not typical oldest (but is ridiculously brilliant - Mensa, and all that)

Relationship has evolved drastically over the years; very complicated

We were raised very similarly in a wonderfully, loving home

Hubby is the youngest; not typical, either. Our birth orders have had no bearing on our relationship. We are quite different, and have worked beautifully together for 35 years.

Our kids fit no birth order stereotypes. Our oldest (son) is an intellectually brilliant free spirit - very creative, tech-savvy, musical, and hilarious/witty. Our youngest (daughter) is an eccentric, intelligent analytical thinker - very driven, focused, reasoned and introverted (but fiercely independent).

 

[notabitail]

Birth order: youngest, brother
is 7.5 years older

Not stereotypical youngest

Brother is not typical oldest (but is ridiculously brilliant - Mensa, and all that)

Relationship has evolved drastically over the years; very complicated

We were raised very similarly in a wonderfully, loving home

Hubby is the youngest; not typical, either. Our birth orders have had no bearing on our relationship. We are quite different, and have worked beautifully together for 35 years.

Our kids fit no birth order stereotypes. Our oldest (son) is an intellectually brilliant free spirit - very creative, tech-savvy, musical, and hilarious/witty. Our youngest (daughter) is an eccentric, intelligent analytical thinker - very driven, focused, reasoned and introverted (but fiercely independent).

I'm the oldest male in my family (aside from Dad). I ended up being very tech-nerdy too. I have half a closet's worth of literal tech junk. Probably more than that, since I have a bottom shelf with junk on it too.

 

[sourland]

Youngest of 3.
Oldest sister up for sainthood.
Middle sister - not a good person.
And then there is me.

Older sister is deceased. 'Divorced myself from the other sister on the day we buried our mother. The pleaser/peacemaker role was no longer necessary, and finally 'enough was enough'. No regrets - you can't lose something you never really had.


Happy Thanksgiving, and make those that you love aware of that fact.

 

[TXchickmum]

I'm the oldest male in my family (aside from Dad). I ended up being very tech-nerdy too. I have half a closet's worth of literal tech junk. Probably more than that, since I have a bottom shelf with junk on it too.

During high school, my oldest was the "tester" for the school's tech security. He'd get called out of class via the administrative staff to see if he could "break into" this or that, get passwords, etc. It was a hoot (and scary to see how lax stuff was).