analyze – i has it

I am the 2nd born of 4 children in the family (see image below).  Being an analytical type by nature, I sometimes analyze myself and one way to do that is to try to figure out if I fit into the Middle Child stereotypeor (because I’m actually the eldest boy on top of being the second child) do I take more of a first born role?

The Siblings - Note these are actual photos taken of the children as much as 30 years before they were born!

Henry T. Stein developed some basics of children behavior.  Here’s his summary of the positions that may apply to me and my thoughts:

Second

Jenna is my elder sister, so she’s the one that was “always ahead” of me.  I’m not sure if Dr. Stein meant “peacemaker” rather than “pacemaker” but either applies really.  I don’t like conflict and tried to keep my siblings from fighting.  Unless we were fighting Alex (my younger brother), he was fair game.  I never felt very competitive, but maybe I was in the depths of my brain.  I’m still not competitive at all, but I am a better driver than Jenna and I’m taller than her too, not to mention I’m more dashing and stronger.

Eldest

This is a stretch since I’m just the eldest boy, not the eldest child, and it was 4 years after I was born until the next boy (Alex) was born.  So I didn’t feel very “dethroned” by him since I was far Superior.  Maaaybee I was kinda strict and authoritarian towards him, but you’ll have to ask him – either way I think he’s cool now.  I like the part about being helpful, that’s me to a T

Middle

Ashley (Sister) and I are both middle children, so we were both squeezed out of privilege and significance.  This could be remedied by larger portions of the parents will, but I’m probably still out of the will and will therefore have to get back in before I can get any extras.  The even-tempered is a good description of me.  I usually only get riled up after several days of repeated abuse from my siblings.

Only Boy Among Girls

This applied for the first 4 years of my life and, truthfully, Dad was not “away” all that much so I had a good man figure despite my sisters attempts to make me “effeminate.”  No high heels here.  I’m sure there’s probably deep underlying scars from having to live 4 years without a brother for support though.  They probably will become evident when I go through my midlife crisis.

Most of those characteristics seem to focus on the negatives of each position.  So here’s some positives of being the second/middle/eldest boy/among girls for 4 years born in the family: I wasn’t the Guinea pig like Jenna, I got Dad’s attention all to myself, I learned how to relate to girls early in life, I had Sister as a fellow middle child to play with, I got to do more cool guy stuff than Jenna did.