What are your preconceptions about birth order & even gender order? What the ideal quantity of kids, gender & what order? Why do you think that?

[DrPepper12]

I always love hearing about "Firstborns are this, middle kids are that and youngest kids are X"

Please also chime in about twins or triplets.

I'd also love to hear about your opinions on age differences either 10 months or 25 years!

Lastly, should "Oops" kids be told they were unplanned?

[Tarifa]

Difficult to generalize, but I’d say the oldest brother or sister is the one seeking all the attention. Maybe it is because they’ve been cast the role of taking care of the younger ones from an early age onwards, or maybe they still have that feeling that what once was their sole reign had to be shared with others. That they suddenly went from being the sole child to being the oldest of several children.

I’d say the youngest one is the child that is rebellious. As the youngest in the family, you tend to look up at your older brothers and sisters. Until you realize that you have a voice of your own and that not everything they tell you should be taken for granted.

An age difference of 10 months, several years or even 25 years doesn’t make any difference. There will always be a special bond, no matter what the age difference is. But with 25 years’ difference, you’d have missed out on the part where you play together and have similar interests. Everyone is special. It’s not necessarily the last one who was unplanned, it could very well be the first one if their parents were quite young.

[Avicenna]

No need to tell them they were unplanned until it’s time to have “The Talk” about not having unprotected sex.

[Apple1996]

I def notice a huge difference between oldest, middle and youngest kids. They all act a different way.

And sure kids should know if they are planned or unplanned. I don't think it makes much of a difference

Age gaps between kids are weird cuz the closer they are the more they seem to fight. My kiddos with a bigger gap get along better. Like my 2 and 7 year old cry to share a room together even tho they have the biggest gap between my kids

[DrPepper12]

Same here. Oldest n youngest are bff's with 7 years between them. Agreed about unplanned, doesn't change a thing!

[Caroline91]

It's just my older brother and me. He very much fits the oldest birth order characteristics: responsible, ambitious, and confident. I, as the youngest also fit the description: highly social, confident, creative, good at problem solving and adept at getting others to do things for me. lol. I have always been more than happy to be the little sister. He is very protective of me, even now as adults.

[JSkye]

Hi!

Eldest sister here (by 5 years), and I very much fit all of the stereotypes of an eldest sister 😅

At my age, my family has a new matriarch on the rise!

I was an "Oops!" kid myself, but that doesn't bother me... So I wouldn't hold back from telling one of my kids that they were (but neither of them were).

[LiamJHayden]

I'm an only, but from observing my friends I find the oldest tend to be the most bossy and most resentful. Again, this in anecdotal not scientific.

[DrPepper12]

What's the worst and best part of being an only?

[LiamJHayden]

Worst - no siblings
Best - sole heir

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

The birth order theory is fairly interesting but obviously not fullproof 100% lol

[DrPepper12]

Yeah. Agreed but as A teacher who has had as many as 4 siblings from a family I've actually said to them "Your SURE you were raised together in the same house?" I mean SO DIFFERENT!!

[exitseven]

The youngest is usually the most social child.

[DrPepper12]

That's the fact here. My princess would have a fantastic time at a wake and walk away with numbers for three new friends. It's remarkable to watch

[NathanDavis]

I was very much that neglected middle child myself... lol

one of three brothers as well

[RedInnocent69]

Two, one of each, boy first.