Hey!
for those who have sibilngs, I guess you've heard that birth order - whether you're the oldest, the youngest or any of the sandwich - correlates your personality, likes and dislikes and even your career prospect or choice!

To make the long story short: Older siblings are said to be more determined, bossy, committed, as well as organised and perfect leaders.
On the other hand, younger siblings are more affectionate, wittier, more creative and more demanding to themselves.
We've also got the middle children, or the sandwich, as I call them. They have to fight to be noticed sometimes, according to the legend. Also, they are more peaceful, great negotiators, more loyal and less tough to themselves, which helps them overcome failure or problems far better.
Last but not least, we have only children. As they've got no siblings, they are far more confident, yet spoiled. They might also be far more critical and sometimes more conceited due to having everyone else's attention, and it's mainly during childhood that most of the times they do yearn for a brother or sister. Still, most of them tend to be gregarious.

TIME Magazine
Scientific American

In relation to family order, do you agree with these profiles? How do you describe yourself as a brother or sister? If you are an only child, have you ever longed to have a sibling?

I can't agree with what they say in the article. I'm the youngest of the three siblings. And I don't meet the requirements I'm supposed to have being the last of my parents children.

In my family the "black sheep" is my older brother, who is very close to be alcoholic, and who doesn't decided for a career.

Misor wrote:In my family the "black sheep" is my older brother, who is very close to be alcoholic, and who hasn't decided for a career.

Oh! I'm sorry about that situation! How old is your brother?
You see, this sort of situations typically take place in younger brothers or sisters, as they're usually less constrained than older children who have got their parents' pressure as well as more maturity.
Is there any factor which as taken your brother to this situation?

He is 37 years old.

And I think the main factor as you said is my parents control. As far as I know his first time drinking alcohol was early at high school. In contrast, I wasn't allowed to have even a beer until I became 18. So, in my family the control was on the contrary of what you said, they were more strict with the youngest child (me).

I see!! So the thing was a nurture issue! I think youngest children are fortunate in the way that they count on more experienced parents, just like in your case. What I find curious and sad about your brother's case is that he didn't have overprotecting parents, which is what happens typically with first-born children and which leads to a more mature behaviour. Do you think there are still chances for your brother to make up his mind?

Of course. In fact he became Christian this year and he is much better. Since last year when he got married he haven't got drunk, of course he has some drinks but not too much!

Whew!! That's alleviating and astonishing, his change is for the better!

You've got a sister, don't you? What is she like?

I agree with the birth order profiles. That is what happens in my family, and there are just exceptional cases where things go different, like Misor's.

First children are like kamikaze who have to deal with their parents' inexperience, and sometimes that inexperience make parents be excessively strict or, on the contrary, very flexible, mainly on a generation like now where parents are afraid of children.

Most of the times, youngest children are the most creative and that is why they choose careers which do not seem as a profession - something related to arts, or things like that, what makes their parents complain because they want their children to be 'professionals'. Yeah, most of the times parents disagree with their youngest children's career choice. I have seen that a lot in my group of friends and acquaintances, and it even happened to the sister of my ex.

What I don't understand is why the ones in the middle have to have such a conflicting life. Calling people's attention? Why would they do that?

MusicElf wrote:First children are like kamikaze who have to deal with their parents' inexperience.

I agree! I'm not a parent, but I know that usually first children have a heavy load as the whole responsibility and parents' conceptions about growth rely on them. Moreover, when they are young, inexperienced and even worse, immature parents - I have met many of them - there's a total disorder in the way they bring their kids up, up to the extent that both parents and children grow together.

MusicElf wrote:What I don't understand is why the ones in the middle have to have such a conflicting life. Calling people's attention? Why would they do that?

That's not the situation in my family - as far as I know, but I guess the one in the middle - the sandwich - may feel unnoticed. The pressure of discipline on the oldest child and the worries and are on the youngest may make the sandwich feel he is in none of these extreme roles. Of course I think situations can change in every family. In my case, I was a bit of a troublemaker, but my parents paid lots of attention to what Patricia did and felt, as well. Her sense of humor made her stood out, as well.

But things can really change in every family.

That's right Anita it always depend on the family education.

But I wonder if on single children there are some particular characteristics.

I've heard that single children are over protected, very independent and also egoistic.

What do you think of those statements?

Ok now I want write here some from my expierence down.

Go ahead Nicole. Are you a sinlge daughter.

Or, what position do you have in your siblings order of birth?

As far as I know, Nicole's got two brothers. Yet, I'm suffering from memory loss this week, so I know whether it's right, and I can't remember if Nicole's the youngest. I can just remember the pic of her gorgeous nephew!

Oh sorry for the short post. I wrote more but I don't know why online the first sentences is here.
I have to brothers a younger one and a older one. So I am the middle of the sandwich. I think it is not the best position in the middle because the most time my brothers had more rights than I. My older brother because he was older my younger brother because he was the nest tick.
For example after eating I always had to clean the table because my older brother don't have to do this and my little brother always were to young.

Oh! I never tell the dish thing could happen!
I understand your position when being a child was far more difficult, and your example illustrates it a clear as water. So, would you agree with this kind of profile, Nicole?

Anita wrote:
We've also got the middle children, or the sandwich, as I call them. They have to fight to be noticed sometimes, according to the legend. Also, they are more peaceful, great negotiators, more loyal and less tough to themselves, which helps them overcome failure or problems far better.

Yes I think this kind os profile is the right profile.

Awww!! Well, it seems to have some advantages as well as drawbacks - Always washing dishes...

Did you ever wish to have more siblings, Nicole?

I agree with you two. My sister, who is the sandwich one, is paceful, great negociator and teacher! So She has been a guide to follow for me

And also as you said, she overcome from problems very easy.

I never think about to have more siblings Anita, so I don't miss it.

I see, Nicole. Usually the wish to have more siblings is when we're children, before we have a definite social circle. Perhaps now I'm the only adult who longs to have a new sibling.