Birth Order

I know a lot of folks don't put much stock in the whole "birth order" theory. The one that puts certain characteristics to certain children based on where they are in their birth order. There are lots of little things that change the order that is applied to you too.

 For instance, my husband, is 7 years older than his younger brother. Anything more than 5 years can change the traits. Matt can either take on the traits of the middle sibling or the baby of the family. His youngest brother can either take on the traits of a baby or only child.

 It's all quite fascinating and not nearly as confusing as it sounds. All that being said, it's not concrete by any stretch of the imagination. It's been disputed for years. It is, just as it says, a theory. I listed a few of the traits below:

 Oldest: The oldest sibling is the most independent and also the most responsible of the group. They are natural born leaders and can be control freaks. They strive for perfection, and thrive on approval of authority figures, like mom and dad. They tend to do well in school, their careers, and life in general. The oldest child is also the most likely to be the most successful of the bunch, and might make more money as an adult than other siblings. The first born might end up in an occupational area such as engineering, architecture, or accounting.
 Middle: The middle child, who feels deprived of attention worries about being over-looked, and tends to be the most rebelliant as a youngster. These people are the compromisers of the world, and enjoy pleasing others. They enjoy working in groups and feeling like they belong, and are good at making friends and getting along with others. These children tend to flock to occupations that are more people oriented than their older siblings.
 Youngest: The youngest child generally is the most artistic of the group. They are also most likely to be the class clown, since they will do just about anything for attention, and usually are characterized as the show-off of the family. The last born also tends to be a bad decision maker and a very impatient person who tends to get bored rather easily.
 I did all that to get to my point...seems kind of long to make a point or share a story.

 I am a typical first born - well right up until that part about being an engineer and making lots of money. I guess, I'm a "Home Engineer" or sorts. My siblings could almost all fall right into their designated spots right behind me. You could probably do a case study on my family and use it to prove all of these theories correct.

 My husbands family though is a little different. His oldest brother is definitely the first born and carries most of those traits. My husband takes on traits of both the middle and the youngest though. So - birth order and why I'm writing this...

 Yesterday, M finally lost another tooth. The kid is going to be 9 in two days and has only lost 5 teeth. S hasn't lost much more than him at 10 and O...he hasn't lost any. I was thankful that the tooth finally fell out. His hands have been in his mouth non stop for a week and it's gross. M's teeth are jacked up anyhow. I'm certain we will spend a fortune at the orthodontist in the next few years on him - a trait I'm blaming on his daddy and his genes. The kids has teeth totally grown in behind teeth that haven't fallen out..he looks like a shark!

 The kids are all ready for bed. No other reminders of the lost tooth have been said throughout the day. This is dangerous for the "tooth fairy". The "fairy" often has lots of other stuff on her mind. Important things like: did I switch the laundry or will it really be a HUGE problem if I leave that dirty pan on the stove overnight...not, I'd better get that tooth and leave a prize. I think everyone is sound asleep and tucked in bed. Matt and I were finishing the bathroom faucet and looking forward to sitting down to relax when I hear S say: "Mom, don't forget, M lost his tooth today and he'll be waiting for the tooth fairy". I thanked him for the reminder and then went to scrounge up a dollar or two. I finally found a dollar on the table in the living room. I'm not sure who the dollar belonged to. For all I know, I gave M, his own dollar! That's how we roll around here sometimes folks.

 I thought about how much like the oldest S is. He thinks he's 42 and much smarter than both his father and I. He's a control freak. He does wonderfully in school and never has any problems there. He's the birth order trait. He'll be the brother who reminds his younger siblings to grab a coat. He'll probably always have extra stuff on him if anyone needs it. I'm hoping as they outgrow the fighting stage and grow into appreciating each other a little more, he'll become the one who watches out for his brothers. He's quite responsible too. I trust him to do many things - which in turn means I often rely on him too much.

This made me think of my relationship with my siblings. I laughed and thought that this is just what it's like with us. I'm always the one who had extra snacks, diapers, wipes and toys in the diaper bag because I was certain Nancy wouldn't have enough or wouldn't think about it. Cold night trick or treating...don't worry, Auntie Beth has 5 extra pair of gloves. Your hungry...go to Beth's house. She's always stocked with good food. I stayed the protector. I was the party thrower...kid needs a birthday cake. I'll make him one. The problem is...this didn't all stem from my unending desire to help and nurture as much as I'm a control freak! Things need to go a certain way and if I have all the bases covered then it's a step in the right direction.

 If birth order continues to hold true I may be in trouble with O! Although, M doesn't seem to follow the middle child traits very much at all, O is definitely the youngest. He's really easy going for the baby of the family - but he's the youngest one...right up to being the class clown!