My Birth Order Discoveries

Chance Carmichael
Psychology
Birth Order Paper
Mr. Fennewald
December 14, 2006

My Birth Order Discoveries

Truthfully speaking, I was skeptical about the accuracy of birth order. I was expecting it to be some false science which was only backed up by flimsy research. However, I became interested when reading about the middle child details and they all fit me.
There are three children in my family. The eldest is Cole Archer Carmichael, who doesn’t much fit the first child. This does make sense, because he was only two when my twin sister and I were born. My theory is that the birth of twins shocked my brother out of the position in front; constantly telling us to do stuff for him, envying our bond, and angry that we were allowed to stay home and he was allowed at school. So, I don’t think it was much of Cole being Cole, I look at it as a shock out of front. To be honest, he does have traits that fit first born; he is constantly exaggerating his shortcomings; he doesn’t date any girl that’s “putting out”; and he thinks that he is only right.
What happened to Cole? I think he pushed himself via my father to the position of last child. He’s popular, dramatic, a money waster, a brat, and a rebel. I think that through the shock of twins and because my father paid more attention to Cole than me, he became a last born-first born hybrid with an emphasis on last born.
So, that leaves my sister Robin and I. Robin Chelsea Carmichael was born the same day as I and was the first and only girl in our family. This and my brother’s failing at the status of first born moved her up to first born. She isn’t a very strong first born, but I believe this is because she doesn’t have any younger siblings. She is highly opinionated and studious. Out of all of us, she is the only one who brings home her homework when she has it. Cole usually leaves it at school to be unfinished in his locker, and I bring it home, but often procrastinate. Robin finishes hers usually. Although she struggles in school more than I do, she is the most pursuant and ambitious. As a child, my mother was kidding and announced, “One of you better become a lawyer someday, because I want to retire early.” Robin was the first to jump up and say, “I’ll do it!” She aspires to become a producer, a surgical nurse, or a Crime Scene Investigator whereas Cole wants to be a Psychologist and I want to be a Writer. She also is the only one in the household to do chores, and she’s always been very self-reliant. She was never babied and often was the one who helped me out after I had surgery.
As twins we share some traits, but I think being fraternal we separated. We both have slight egos, and I connect this to our always being referred to as “The Twins” and dressing the same at a very, very young age. But Robin and I were actually very well prepared by my Mother. As children, we were to be in separate classes, on separate sports teams, and were given separate presents to send us the message that we were independent and not just twins. Some parents, I believe, tend to ruin their children’s individuality when they don’t separate them enough.
My Mother and Father are both last borns. My Father has a fraternal same gender twin. My Mother is sort of a caboose baby. The only one in her family affected by both of their siblings is my Uncle David Archer, who is a total Middle Child. He was extremely cruel to my Mother, shooting her with bee bee guns and telling her to dance in front of his friends, and putting fake bugs in her bed constantly. She was babied by my Grandfather who was glad to give her candy. However, she also has first born traits – including her being in the top quarter of her class in high school, becoming an Engineer, and trying to start her own business many times. My Father is a total last born. He’s a musician and if that’s not enough to sell it to you, he became an atheist as a teenager because he began to question, “Why?” Both of my parents are atheists, and they’re reasoning is “Why?” My father is irresponsible, but loveable. He often spends his money on himself and others just to see people happy. He finds a lot things funny.
My closest friends also exhibit certain birth order traits. Casey Rachelle Lane, my best friend of five years is a last born. She is a very big last born too. She’s highly creative when she is writing a story, coming up with an idea, or drawing something, but she’s lazy and self-centered. She is often rebellious for what appears to be no reason, and she feels like she can never live up to her older sister, Jenny. My friend Benjamin Holladay is a first born, and I believe this to be because his eldest brother wasn’t always there when he was little, and he felt like the first boy. He is very studious, and has never received a “B” since he began high school to prove someone wrong. He doesn’t have very many close friends, and is a very big perfectionist. The biggest thing is that he loves making lists. Michelle Lazcano is a friend/partner in crime of mine who I’ve harbored a crush on for several months. I’ve come to find her to be a complete last born when compared to her recently deceased brother. She looked up to him very much, and he protected her wholeheartedly. In fact, in the packet under “Younger Sister of Older Brother” you can check off almost every single one of them, especially determined, organized, defensive, and difficulty with romance. Another example is second oldest friend, Aerica Raven Van Dorn, who is a total only child; determined, hated to be excluded, ambitious, and a tad egotistical. Steven Randolph and Ronnie Blackburn are both first borns. They often get in highly extended fights, because they both have trouble admitting they’re wrong. I try and intervene, seeing both sides of the issue, but they don’t like it when I “get in their business.”
That leads to me, Chance Ethan Carmichael, born as a twin to Robin almost seventeen years ago. In my family, I find myself to fit Middle Child like a glove. As a child, I was not as popular to my parents as Cole, who was studious as a child or Robin, the girl of the household. I was Chance. The one who was blamed for every accident, the one who cried the most, and the one who was most secretive. Today, I still don’t tell my parents or siblings a word about what is going on in school or with friends. I come up with lame excuses, or just admit that things are fine. I feel embarrassed talking about such petty things which is another characteristic of middle children. You see, my siblings’ little switcheroo was not clear to me. I, being smaller than Cole, but bigger than Robin felt as though I was in the middle, which probably threw me there. I’m sensitive to feelings: little things can throw me to rage or sadness; I avoid confrontation unless I feel something is squarely wrong; I absolutely hate suck-ups, I can point them out anywhere at musical practice, I swear to God; I don’t like admitting I’ve had a good or bad day, because it feels weird telling people stuff; I often flip flop on issues and sometimes just can’t decide the right way out; and it takes me awhile of trial and tribulation before I actually go for a girl. I once developed a crush on Ashley Trapp (Jamie’s older sister), and even though I’m sure she knew, I avoided the thought. I actually avoided Michelle for months before finally admitting to myself that I should do it, because I’m impulsive.
Which leads me to the fact that I am a Middle Child with Last Born tendencies. Your suspicions were half-way correct; I am somewhat of a last born. I’m impulsive, rebellious, irresponsible, chatty, and self-indulgent. However, I am not a brat, nor can I not read. So, I am a Middle Child with Last Born tendencies. Given a situation I’d pay close attention to details and look at both sides of the issue before coming to an answer, but of course I could switch it when talking to someone else to avoid an argument.
So, there you have it. I also blame the reason on getting no ladies on the fact that there are no middle borns left in the world, just stuck up first borns and shallow last borns. = )