Your Birth Order

[arwalden]

What's your birth order? How many total were there?

Do you think your birth order has an effect on your personality or your political beliefs? :-)

(Edited for clarity.)

[cherryperry]

1. Oh, my straight stars, it's Allen!

The Love Of My Life: <<<<<kiss>>>>>


Honey, you are what you are because you are what you are...

Let it be
Let it be
Let it be
Let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be

:loveya:

[eyesroll]

2. I am a typical older (of 2) child...

I had my act together way before my sister did (age-wise), although we're both doing fine now.

I'm the nerd; she's the athlete.

Not the main reason I am what I am (I also have typical Libra traits), but it's intriguing.

[WillParkinson]

3. I'm alone...

Mom and dad tried to have more but my moms tubes were blocked and they couldn't.

I figure, "Hell, once you've got perfection why bother?"

[cherryperry]

33. My sentiments exactly! LOL

:pals:

[arwalden]

4. Oldest of THREE!

And the heaviest. Weighing in at OVER ten pounds, my mother said "never again!" (She lied.)

Being the oldest made me mean. I teased my brother and sister a LOT! They also were able to learn from all my mistakes... and they learned what they could (or couldn't) get away with.

-- Allen

[tnlefty]

5. youngest of 3

But the gender changed so doesn't that impact the typical birth order traits somewhat along with if there is a 6-7 yr. gap between children even of the same gender?

I don't think that birth order is the main reason. I do know that if my middle child acts anything like the middle child sibling that I grew up with it will impact him as my foot will freqently be impacting his behind!

[CO Liberal]

6. Middle Child .... Only Son

I have one sister four years older, and one four years younger.

[arwalden]

12. My Partner Is Seven-Of-Nine

(Not the Jeri Ryan character.) The age range of his siblings is 35 years. Apparently condoms are illegal in that part of Pennsylvania... and well-water contributes to fertility.

The youngest two brothers (twins) have an aunt and uncle who are YOUNGER than they are!

[supernova]

14. LOL!

My niece (sister's daughter) is only eight years younger than me. She feels more like a younger sister than a niece to me. "Aunt supernova" really klangs in my ears.

[liberalhistorian]

7. I was an only child and I hated it!

I still do. And I don't think it helps much as an adult in the real world, either, because you get used to not having to learn to share and compromise, and to getting your own of everything.

And I'm not sure if it's good training for marriage, either. I'm 38 and never married (although I do have a 12-year-old son, so I suppose you could say I have a little boy to take care of after all, lol!), and I think that's one of the major reasons why. As an only child, you get used to spending hours alone every day, (as well as pretty much doing what you want when you want without having to take a sibling's schedule into account) and you get to where you actually enjoy it and need it. That doesn't go over very well in a marriage, especially if you're married to someone from a larger family.

I did live with someone for a couple of years during and right after college, in my mid-20's, and it was a disaster. He couldn't understand why I needed and wanted so much time alone, why I'd forsake the fucking housework and laundry (I told him I wasn't his mother, if he wanted his laundry done and everything clean all the time, he could get a maid, and a cook, too, while he was at it!) to read a book or magazine or the paper, or things like that, had to know where I was going and what I was doing. I couldn't just go out with a friend for dinner or anything like that, I had to let him know I was going to be late so he wouldn't worry, etc. In short, my time wasn't my own. And I've seen a lot of marriages up close, enough to know that you give up a lot when you get married, mainly your freedom and your personal time alone, and I'm not sure I want to do that.

Of course, everyone just says I haven't met the right person, because, when you're with the right person, you don't mind all that stuff and you actually want to share things with them and wake up with them and go to sleep with them, etc. That's probably true!

[supernova]

13. If it's a healthy realationship

there's a good balance between couple/alone time. "Good" meaning whatever works for both. And you're right. If it's the right person, you definitely are motivated to check in with them often when you're not together, just because you don't want them to worry. And you want to know that they are enjoying themselves also.

[liberalhistorian]

16. I have heard that about the right person

motivating you to change, I'll take your word for it! Since I'm in an area where the single men are mostly freepers, RW wingnuts, and fundie nutballs, it'll probably be awhile before I find out, if ever!

[WoodrowFan]

15. I liked it, still do.

Some negative memories, but in general it ROCKED.

[LWolf]

49. Only child.

And your description fits well. I have a hyper-developed sense of privacy and space. I'm generally most content alone.

[Section_43]

52. Only child too

Your descriptions are incredibly right on the money!

"One is the lonliest number"

[Cosmic_Latte]

57. Same here, only child

Makes me both happy and sad at the same time. :-(

I think it also affects because you think a lot to yourself (the space and all) and you really choose what's good... I think loners are usually liberal thinkers... as of what I know.

[trof]

59. Fond memories as onliest child.

I was not just the only child in my immediate family, I was the only child in my extended family of uncles and aunts. It was great. I was doted upon, cosseted, spoiled, and generally catered to by everyone...except my mom. She kept dragging me back to the real world. She was very liberal, very independent (divorced when I was 4, never remarried), very loving, but no pushover. I owe most of whatever is good about me to her.

Mrs.t. was in the midst of six. Boy, girl, girl, her, boy, boy. She felt like a face in the crowd. Didn't really have a close relationship with her parents until years after we were married. After the birth of our daughter, we decided that would be it. As someone here said, you can't improve on perfection. I know that we were able to do things for her that we could not have afforded for 2 or more.

Now she has a 15 month old son and she and her husband are talking about whether to have another or not. I think one is fine, but I don't get a vote in this one.
;-)

[arwalden]

60. That Appears To Be A Common Theme...

People from large broods often want just one or two children of their own... while those who grew up as an "only-child" will frequently want to have a gaggle of their own.

-- Allen

[WoodrowFan]

64. Not Always

I was an only and I wanted none, zero, zippo. MY wife (youngest of 4) agreed.
Kids, feh, nasty, smelly messy little buggers...

[LWolf]

66. I didn't want a gaggle.

But I did have 2. I didn't want my child to be as isolated as I was. And I was. I was not just an only child, I was an only child of a single parent who had no regular contact with any other family member, ever. Even today, I have exactly 4 extended family members. My mother, my 2 sons, my grandson. That's it.

My oldest friend, in much the same circumstance, also chose to have 2 children. For the same reason.

[supernova]

8. Youngest of Three here!

And I stopped being the pampered baby at age 8, when my big brother --the middle child-- went away to college. :-( He's exactly 10 years older than me. Our sister is the oldest. She's 13 years older than me and 4 years older than bro.

[LynneSin]

9. Youngest but with only child syndrome

My brother is only about 5 years older than me, but he went to college the year my father died. So I kinda picked up the only child syndrome since brother (and rabid right-winger), didn't bother to help out with our mother who was having a rough time through her loss (but he was sure greatful for those SSN checks he got through college. I didn't get them since they discontinued giving them to children in college)

[Boudicea]

10. Youngest of five and against all odds

My mom had had her tubes tied 7 years before I was born. The folks were 45 and 49, bless their hearts.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Oldest of 5, Sort Of

I have one adopted sister who's 11 years younger than me, but my parents raised 3 cousins of mine when their parents died 5 months apart.

They were 12, 10, & 10 at the time of their parents death, and i was almost 14. So, i went from only child, to much older of two, to oldest of 5 in 22 months.

The Professor

[soupkitchen]

17. Born to Rebel, by Fank Sulloway

Is a study on personality and birth order. Great book.

[MissMillie]

18. by only 20 minutes

I'm the youngest of six.

[arwalden]

19. Twins, Triplets, Quads?

Or more?

[MissMillie]

21. identical twin

[skippysmom]

20. only child here...

The biggest things I notice is that I like my alone time. Thankfully my husband has adjusted to it. He's an oldest, but likes his alone time too.

I hate being stereotyped as self-centered and spoiled. I'd like to think I'm pretty well adjusted!

[ronnykmarshall]

22. Youngest of two.

My brother was 2 1/2 years older than me. He hid under my granmothers bed when they brought me home from the hospital.

[cherryperry]

35. Can you blame him?

LOL!!

:evilgrin:


:pals:

[arwalden]

23. Is It True That A Twin Is Statistically More Likely To Be Gay Than...

... someone without a twin?

In my family it's TRUE. There are only two sets of twins and in both sets, ONE of the twins is gay.

Coincidence? Urban legend? My imagination? Or is there something more going on?

-- Allen

[cherryperry]

36. probably just the hallucinogens kicking in...

:silly:

:grouphug:

[WoodrowFan]

68. which one?

you or your brother?? :spank:

[arwalden]

72. You Quack Me Up!

There's 5 years difference between me and my brother.

-- Allen

[jono]

24. Middle of three boys

I'm the poor, forgotten, middle child.... sigh.

:nopity:

</middle child self-pity>

[arwalden]

26. The "forgotten middle child" syndrome is real

My brother, the middle child, has practically NO baby photos and no home movies. (Remember 8mm and super-8?)

Then along comes my sister... the first girl in ages... and everyone's all a-ga-ga and camera happy again.

-- Allen

PS: Ever watched "Malcolm In The Middle"?

[jono]

30. Yes!

It's true in our family too - lots of pics of the first-born, and lots of pics of the baby, but very few of me!

And I haven't watched Malcolm in a while, but when it first came on I loved it. I really identified with the Malcolm character!

[DemExpat]

56. I'm the middle of five....and yes, there IS a middle child pattern.....

no :nopity: for me, I've worked that all out in therapies :D, but it IS true.
I was "lost" between the oldest 2 and the young ones.....

:hi:
DemEx

[Booberdawg]

25. Oldest

I think it affected my personality and accomplishments but i have no idea if it affected my political beliefs. My family members are all Republicans!

[arwalden]

28. Same here!! Except for my mother, EVERYONE in my family is a Borg.

Republiborg, that is!

It's the cause of much family stress, many arguments, and awkward silence at family gatherings. I'm willing to just not talk politics with them... but they are so frelling sanctimoniously silent sometimes as a way of arguing. Does that make sense?

They don't want to even move on and simply talk about something else. They prefer to be angry and self-righteous in their isolation instead of agreeing to disagree. Sad.

-- Allen

[Booberdawg]

34. We don't discuss politics anymore

They seriously thought I was a nutcase before the war when I said we were in NO fucking imminent danger from Iraq nor did they have nukes. My OWN FAMILY considered me UNPATRIOTIC because I didn't kiss up to this horses ass pushing a war!! That hurt - cause they KNOW me better than that.

Now that things have gone to shit, they aren't saying much.:evilgrin:

[ploppy]

27. Youngest of five

and the only girl. I still think I am special and don't understand it when others don't.

[cherryperry]

37. I feel exactly the same way!

It's just because they are idiots, right?

:pals:

[underpants]

29. Head first

I'm told

[MaineDem]

31. Oldest of four

Smartest, cutest, most politically active. :evilgrin:

But all of my sisters are politcal thinkers and so are their children.

[Chico Man]

32. Older by 3 minutes

But I was conceived 30 days after my twin sister..

So I was born pre-mature. Truly a miracle :)

[cherryperry]

38. That's a good thing to remember!

WE ARE ALL MIRACLES.

Now, come on and sit by the campfire and let's sing a round of Kumbaya...:puke:


:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:


WE ALL ROCK!

[arwalden]

40. Wait A Minute...

Are you joking?

I thought a woman's ovary would not produce another egg after a fertile egg had already attached itself to the lining of the uterus. Hmmm.

I think someone ought to write an article about your mom for webmd.com. (No disrespect or insult intended... I'm just truly amazed!)

-- Allen

[Chico Man]

67. I'm not joking..

The fact that my mom produced another egg is what is so incredible about the whole thing. And when this happens, usually the older "consumes" the younger. So I must have been a good fighter or something.

[FlaGranny]

39. Youngest, but it doesn't count.

One sibling is 15 years older and one 10 years older than me. So, you might say, I was treated almost like the first, even though I was the last.

[Padraig18]

41. 11th of 14

And my birth order has made me a firm proponent of contraceptive and family-planning education. :silly:

[radfringe]

42. 3 in the family

Me - the oldest
brother - 14 months younger than me
sister - 7 years younger than me

Our dad makes rush limpballs look positivley liberal, our mother is shifting to the right

but the three of us kids are firmly planted on the left

[cherryperry]

43. Okay, I'll be serious then!

Although I am an only child, I believe my "birth order" did not affect my political beliefs. My parents, however, did. They were both very very left-wing and I got it from my first day alive.

However, it did probably affect my personality as I am unfortunately somewhat dismissive of anyone else's take on things. Don't abuse me for my honesty, pretty please...thankyew!

:hi:

:kick:

:grouphug:

[maxanne]

44. I'm the oldest

and the rebel in the family of Republicans. I horrified my parents by being arrested at anti-nuke demonstrations. I horrified my parents by growing up to be a liberal!!

My dad got to be okay with all of it by the time he died. My mother is still horrified. Screw her.

My sister didn't inherit the family disease (alcoholism) but she does have all the "isms" that drunks do. She doesn't speak to me.

My daughter is determinedly apolitical, probably a result of growing up with me. I think the 2004 election will motivate her, after the lessons she learned about health care this year. Also, I think I'll be a candidate again, so she'd better vote for me!!

[InkAddict]

45. Me too!

but perhaps I was brought by the stork or plucked from the cabbage patch for all the prudishness, fundamentalist/Bible literalist), Victorian ideology that was rampant in the old homestead. After Mommie Dearest said I was no longer part of the family by reason of my marriage (to an approved person because she thought he'd become a preacher/I guess disapproved when that didn't happen) and then said they didn't want to speak to me until "someone" (unspecified) died, I've assigned them to the virtual crash&burned "Value Jet" fate. They also have no interest in their grandchildren.

Very sad, but I came to realize I must have been the family scapegoat all along by reason of wrong gendered birth order. There are two others: a very SMART, and properly Aryan, younger sister who can do no wrong and aids and abets the Repuke military/industrial complex, last time I checked, and a younger brother, Mommie/Poppy's dearest's rice bowl, still at home at 47 I think, a drawer of steel-surrounded holes. GO FIGURE!

:nopity:

[Lindsey]

46. The baby of the family

here. There are four of us in all and I think that I probably was pampered. My bro is 10 years older than I am, then one sis is 8 years older and the other sis is 2 years older. My sis who's 8 years older and I are the closest. She's the one that turned me on to DU and to EVERYTHING happening politically. She was telling me several years ago about what they were doing to Clinton. I started getting somewhat active during the impeachment but it wasn't until the 2000 selection that I became enraged and NEVER got over it. I still listen to EVERTHING she says and hang on her every word - she's a true big sister. Eventhough I have my opinions, I know that I'll end up voting for who she suggests because, dammit, she's my big sister and she knows everything!!!!

[SmileyBoy]

47. Older of two boys. My younger brother is 14.

:-)

[HEyHEY]

48. See all the oldest siblings?

No wonder DUers are so bossy

[peterh]

50. Oldest of five…

The bookends are liberals, while the three in the middle were like deer in headlights with my parents.

[DemoTex]

51. Oldest of 5

Same as Ms/Dr DemoTex, my wife of 30 years.

[Piltdown13]

53. Hmmm....depends on how you count...

I'm the only child from my parents' first marriages. But -- both subsequently remarried to people who also had kids from previous marriages. My dad married a woman who had one son, older than me, but who lived with his dad and so was never around. They had my half-brother, which would make me sort of the oldest in that "family" group.

My mom married a man who had five kids from previous marriages -- three older and two younger than me, making me the middle child. But, the older three lived with their mom, while the two younger split their time between their mom and our house (lived just a few blocks away), so of that group, you might call me the oldest.

I suppose going from being basically an only child to being one of six (three if you just count the ones that lived with us) at the age of eight would do something about those childish tendencies toward selfishness. And who knows, maybe being an only, middle, and oldest child at various times gave me a wider perspective, which is definitely a liberal characteristic :-).

[arwalden]

58. I'll Bet The Holidays At Your House Are FUN FUN FUN!!!

How do you keep track of who's whom?

-- Allen

P.S. Mine is similar... but not so complex.

[Pithlet]

54. Oldest of 2

I'm a year and a half older than my sister. I'm very liberal, whereas she is a Republican.

It's interesting to note how many of us are the oldest. I wonder if there is something to that. My husband, who is also a DUer was also the oldest of 2.

[Solly Mack]

55. Quess (I think it's obvious)

Youngest of 4

Maybe, maybe not...all 4 are liberals

[bleedingheart]

61. No answer for me - I am the Oldest and the Middle Child

I am the Oldest child of my parents marriage but since my mother had a child from her first marriage I am the Middle of her children.

[arwalden]

62. If All The Kids Lived At The Same Home... Then I'd Say...

... that you were the middle-child.

Blended families are definitely a challenge. Especially during the holidays. (Who gets what? Who travels to see whom? Who gets the kids this year?)

-- Allen

[emad]

63. 1.. Eldest 2.. Definitely: 3: Damned right it did!

One and only surviving test tube baby born to a surrogate. Sure I wish there had been siblings, but can't do anything about it.

Married to the oldest in his family, all his siblings and parents murdered. Did it affect him? Sure, damned right it affected him ,and me!!!

Political beliefs: helped me realise if you know what questions to ask and where to look, you get the right answers. Politics? Sniffing out fascists became my raison d'etre. Outing their criminal agenda my personal hobby. Publishing the unpublished data: my life's work and pleasure!

[Skittles]

65. second of six

the only girl

[WoodrowFan]

69. Knew a Youngest of Six who was also an only..

The other five were all grown and out of the house when OOPSIE, Mumsie had surprise news for Daddy!!! The next to youngest was her First Grade teacher.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

70. I'm right in the middle...

My older brother and younger sister are both repiglicans.

Interestingly, they didn't exhibit these tendencies until after my father, who was also a repig, died. My dad was abusive as we were growing up...mostly in a verbal sense, but there was a physical element there as well. He eventually faced his demon and altered his behavior. I reconciled my differences with him through therapeutic counseling.

I believe my brother and sister made their peace with him posthumously by becoming repiglicans.

Jeeeze I wish they'd chosen therapy...

[sexybomber]

71. oldest of three

but strangely enough, my next younger brother is the most mature of the three of us. I thought the oldest was supposed to be the most mature, but I guess that goes to show you that there are always exceptions to the rules...

It's more fun being immature, too :D

[Lady Freedom]

73. I am #1 out of four!

***

[NashVegas]

74. Youngest of 5, Purple Sheep of the Family

Purple as opposed to black; people in the family just didn't know what to make of me. And a leftie on top of it.


All of my friends who are the 'baby' of the family have similar observations. We're told that we get all the attention because we're the baby, yet when we look through the family photo albums we're the one with the fewest amount of photos. Ours is the baby book that the first page is filled out and that's pretty much it.

On the other hand, after all the siblings had moved out, USDA choice steaks and other higher-costing goodies were served for dinner much more often.

As for politics, I probably became a committed leftie-feminist the first time I was told that it wasn't okay to run around shirtless like my brothers.

[5thGenDemocrat]

75. Third of five

I don't think it had much effect on my personality or my political beliefs -- all five of us are liberal or moderate Democrats.
It runs in the family (see my screen name).
John
More likely a 7thGenDemocrat, but I'm not changing the name now.
ON EDIT: As an aside, my dad was the older of two kids. His sis, my Aunt Anita, is fourteen years younger than he is (and only twelve years older than me).