Lighter fare: post your standing in your birth order here.

[BlueIris]

Poll question: Lighter fare: post your standing in your birth order here.

By birth order, I mean, which "number" child are you among your siblings (if you have siblings.)

I think we did this once before, but I couldn't find the thread and I'm curious again. Patience, please, if I eff this up--Mercury is retrograde, after all.

Couple of things: about the difference between the "second or later born" child and "middle child" options--I split them up because some people who are second born don't consider themselves middle children if they had more than one younger sibling.

About the twin/triplet/quad option--the one twin I know (with no other siblings besides her brother) doesn't consider herself an oldest or youngest or whatever in the birth order because she and her twin are their parents' "only" children. But she doesn't consider herself an only child, either, because she has a brother. So that's why I made it a separate poll question. If you are a twin or other multiple and you want to check one of the other options, please feel free, of course.

In case anyone wants to share, I'll go first: BlueIris, first born.

[Kookaburra]

1. Middle child here -- only girl, if that matters

[kentauros]

7. Middle as well here

Last of three boys and then one younger sister. I'm actually right in the middle by years with my oldest brother 7 years older and my sister 7 years younger :)

[Kind of Blue]

2. KOB: First one here. n/t

[MorningGlow]

3. Last born by a long shot

Only two kids in the family, my brother and me, with a 14 1/2 year gap in between. I have a great photo of my brother in his high school graduation gown, holding me (dressed in my yellow and white-daisy sundress and white sandals) in the crook of his arm.

[Howler]

4. Only Girl,First Born. N/t

N/t


http://wishadoo.com/

[GardeningGal]

5. Last born out of five children. nt

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Firstborn, with only one sibling....

However, I think my mother counts as a sibling more than a parent. ;)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. Second of two girls.

Almost seven years apart.

[laylah]

9. There are 5 yrs.

between my older sis and me. Then there are 11 mos, then 4 yrs. between me and the younger ones. I could either be the "middle" child, or the oldest of the other set. I have characteristics of both.

Jenn

[I Have A Dream]

10. Second born out of four. However, my older sibling didn't live with us.

Therefore, I had the responsibilities of the first born but none of the privileges/pluses. It was interesting, and I'm glad that it was as it was since it taught me to be responsible without having expectations. (However, I would have liked for my older sibling to have lived with us.)

Oh, and I was also the only one that didn't have some sort of special designation. I have two other sisters, so I wasn't the only girl; I wasn't the youngest or the oldest. Each of my other siblings had one of these special things. Older sister -- oldest; younger brother (also a middle child) -- only boy; baby sister -- youngest.

[Shallah Kali]

11. other - second child adopted, first child biological

.

[mysticalchick]

12. The only "Only" so far!

I bet that surprises no one, huh? :)

[FirstLight]

13. The Baby & The Black Sheep!

My only sister is 4 1/2 years older, so we have never been very close, she's very opposite of me, cancer sun sign.

I was 'supposed' to be the boy, they didn't even think of a girl's name till on the way to the hospital.
When I was born and the doc came out and said "You have a lovely daughter." my dad replied "can I see Him?"
Still have a very masculine tomboy attitude to this day :evilgrin:... I like to impress guys that I can wrench on a car and know how to spit, lol

[RayOfHope]

14. triplet, but I am first out of the three (I'm a girlie with 2 brothers)

I am very much a first born stereotype while my brothers very much fit the middle and youngest.

[Dulcinea]

15. Oldest of 3 girls.

4 years older than 2nd sister, 9 1/2 years older than youngest. No brothers.

[southerncrone]

16. Chose 1st born, but also a 2nd born or only

My dad had another child b/4 me w/another woman (discovered when I was an adult).
I am the only child of my biological parents.
Both parents remarried & I have younger 1/2 siblings from both.
I consider myself the 1st born because I had the responsibilities of dealing w/younger sibling & growing up didn't know of my dad's other child.

No wonder I'm confused!!! :crazy:

[hermetic]

17. Another firsty here

I see we're in the majority, so far anyway.

[BlueIris]

18. Just as I suspected--the bulk of us are first born/oldest.

And a substantial number are last born/youngest. Curious.

[Kookaburra]

21. What does that mean

Especially for us middle born peace makers

[teenagebambam]

19. I'm not sure what to put!

I'm technically the youngest BORN....but then my parents raised my niece, exactly as many years younger than me as I am from my next oldest sibling. I think psychologically I may be a middle....

[Missy Vixen]

20. Firstborn of three daughters n/t

[get the red out]

22. First born

And I am 9 years older than my sister (my only sibling). My husband is first born and 6 years older than his only brother. We don't know what that means but we have always found it interesting.

[Kind of Blue]

23. I think that Is interesting, GTRO.

The first thing that popped into mind was how you stood your ground having a Republican husband. I think being firstborns, may be you two had to grow up a little bit decisive and bossy :rofl:? Perhaps in this life you two were to knock heads over something deeply personal as politics and either grow together or not in an amicable way.

My husband is the youngest male of 6 and I'm the oldest of 5. I think a good fit because I'm able to relax a little because he simply didn't have the kind of responsibilities/pressures I had as a kid. And he loves being responsible and taken seriously. We do knock heads though, he calls me a Nazi because I like getting things done like Yesterday, but he likes to ponder and take his time in decision-making. It makes me crazy at times but I'm learning out to Relax, Relate and Release.

[get the red out]

26. I agree!

He and I both like to get things done our way and definitely knock heads politically. An interesting and much softer side of his is showing up big time since we got our puppy though, he ADORES HER and is so loving and gentle with her. I love watching this, I have missed this side of him in recent years as both of us have become more intense in our political allegiances and had various trials of illnesses and family members' deaths. Mr. Republican is the one who brings the puppy to bed with us and doesn't care if she spends 20 minutes licking our ears then chews the sheets.

In my own right, I have had to learn to admit when I need help in this world and ask for it, especially medically since I am super woman and it is a failure to have any kind of issues and all that, LOL! Trust of and reliance on others is a hard one for me, perhaps because as a kid I went from spoiled only child to being expected to understand and play the role of self-sufficient big sister overnight.

I think we are supposed to work things through together in this life, knocking heads and all. Hard stuff, but we all have that in different ways.

[Kind of Blue]

30. That is wonderful, GTRO!

I'm so happy for you. Contrast really brings out what we need and don't want. But I wish we had a puppy in real life that could bring our political parties together :rofl:

[woo me with science]

24. Since we are indulging in this silliness, I have a rule question.

I remember doing this in high school, and the rule then was that if there were more than five years between you and your closest older sibling, you were counted as first-born again.

I believe the reasoning was that the distance removed the typical rivalry with older siblings and put you again in the place of new doted-upon baby or trailblazer.

[Kind of Blue]

25. I think you partly make a good point. But you know what?

Your statement of calling this "indulging in silliness" goes against the rules of this group. There is a mission statement that includes "This group is intended as a positive place for those who desire a deeper discussion of these stated topics and is not intended as a place to argue the merits of beliefs or choices."

We don't argue the merits of our beliefs or interests but join in if we think it's fascinating without the disparaging remarks. I don't think I have to explain why these topics are discussed here away from DU at large, so I'd appreciate it if you kept it out there. Thanks.

[woo me with science]

27. Okie dokie. It's your clubhouse. :) nt

[Kind of Blue]

31. Yeah, it's really too bad we can't talk

amicably. But such is life and to each its own.

[woo me with science]

32. I thought I was being quite amicable.

I do think it's silly, but for me, this fits in the category of silly but fun.

Which is why I tried to participate nicely.

[I Have A Dream]

35. I don't in any way mean to speak for Blue. I'm sure she'll speak for herself.

However, please realize that it would be easy to mistake what you meant, woo. Most humans tend to be a bit gun-shy when they've been shot at repeatedly in the past by someone, even if not in the current location. I don't say this to be snarky; I'm just trying to explain why we might not know how to take you when you might actually be treating us like fellow human beings.

:)

[woo me with science]

37. I have done my share of savaging on the boards.

I admit that. I am very angry about some beliefs and practices that some on this board support, that cause great harm to people. I have little tolerance for those beliefs.

Other things I simply find amusing, and this topic falls in that category. I remembered the five-year rule, so I thought I would mention it. I thought some here might find it interesting.

I wish you nothing but the best.

[I Have A Dream]

38. I understand. I hope that you will also understand...

that some individuals in this group might be sensitive if they have been on the receiving end of your self-described "savaging" at one point or another.

I don't think that you will find nicer human beings than in this group. We tend to be a forgiving group -- certainly more so than almost any other group at DU. However, I don't think that you would consider it to be unreasonable that someone with whom you've interacted in such a way in the past might not quite trust your motives, especially given your name. :)

Personally, I don't care if you make fun of me or my beliefs, but please don't bring it here. (I'm not saying that you did; I'm just reiterating Blue's point.) We've worked hard to keep this group a haven and intend to keep it one.

Thank you for your good wishes, and thank you for the helpful information. I will be happy to interact with you here if you treat us with respect while you are within the confines of this group. Others may choose otherwise; I certainly wouldn't blame them.

One final point: I must insist that you not express your displeasure here in reference to our beliefs from this point on. I understand that you were responding to my post, but please refrain in the future.

Otherwise, welcome to the group. :)

[woo me with science]

40. That's fair.

Good luck to you.

[Kind of Blue]

41. Thanks, IHAD, exactly what I meant.

:hi:

[Kookaburra]

28. What if there are more than 5 years between all of the sibs?

My older brother is more than 5 years older, and my younger brother is more than 5 years younger. Does that make all of us only children?

[woo me with science]

33. Well, according to the rules I remember,

that would make you all first-born.

But I honestly don't remember where the rules came from.

[woo me with science]

34. Okay, I just looked it up.

The only caveat I see is that some birth order research uses five years, but a few researchers seem to use six.

Using five, it looks like, yes, you would all be only children in your situation.

[JanusAscending]

29. I just voted....

but evidently I had already voted on this poll, but didn't post. I am an only child. (very unspoiled because of the aftermath of the depression and being a WWII baby) I was however lonely...but got used to it, and I credit that for my creativity and learning to entertain myself!

[Myrina]

36. I am all three: first born, youngest, and only child ... in a familiy of 7.

All of my siblings were 2 years or less apart. Then mom started menopause and along came me: 8 years younger than my closest sibling, 17 years younger than the oldest. So essentially, I was the youngest, but emotionally felt like the oldest and also since most of them were teens or married by the time I out of diapers and somewhat tolerable, an only child as well.

Makes for a really interesting psychoanalysis. ;-)

[Matariki]

39. Wow. That reads like a riddle!

I can see you as the Sphinx of Egypt - asking wayward travelers - "I am first born, youngest, and only child ... in a familiy of 7. Who am I?"