How Has Your Family Influenced Who You Are?

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Family of origin plays a significant role in shaping an individual’s development, as early experiences can shape their identity and behavior. Research has shown that family interactions have a significant impact on stress levels, personality, and behavioral traits on younger individuals. Family customs and values can shape who a person is now, as they are the foundation of a house and can influence their worldviews and identities.

Values and beliefs are the first source of values and beliefs that we learn, shaping our worldviews and identities. Open discussions with children encourage communication on issues such as religion and sexuality, which help shape their identity. A strong united family builds a child’s confidence, and affirming them helps encourage their growth.

Family dynamics can affect four main areas: emotional health, self-esteem, and behavior. In the early stages of development, imitation is the first way a child learns how to interact with their environment. A supportive and nurturing family environment provides comfort in turbulent times, and when family members listen with empathy and seek to understand the individual, it helps validate their identity.

To identify how family dynamics shape individual behavior, we must explore the family as a whole, including the individuals who make up the system and how those individuals regularly interact with one another. Parents’ identity, shaped by their own culture, plays a vital role in their parenting practices. People learn how to be parents from the type of parenting they received.

A good family will enhance a person’s personality and bring them to their full potential, while a bad family will criticize, belittle, or abuse them personally. Our families play a crucial role in shaping our values and identity, helping us become more confident, compassionate, and curious. Social support from loved ones contributes to feelings of self-worth.

Family interactions can build or break down an individual’s self-confidence. A united, communicative family can help children gain self-confidence. Family relationships are what make up our world today, shaping the ways we see things and do things.

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📹 HOW BIRTH ORDER CAN SHAPE YOUR PERSONALITY

Have you ever heard that the oldest kid in a family tends to be very responsible, while children who have no siblings are far more …


How Has My Family Shaped Me
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How Has My Family Shaped Me?

My family has been a cornerstone of my identity, shaping me into the person I am today. They have consistently rallied around me for both significant and minor life events, reinforcing the notion that I can always rely on them. The support from my family has been crucial in navigating battles, whether I faced them alone or alongside them. Their dedication to hard work and passion has inspired me to pursue my own dreams. I have absorbed essential values and morals from them, highlighting that I embody my family's essence.

Reflecting on my upbringing reveals the profound ways my family has influenced my personality. Their teachings focus on love, kindness, respect, and honesty, shaping my worldview and aspirations. My parents played pivotal roles; my mother instilled confidence and positivity, while my father imparted lessons on resilience and self-acceptance. They nurtured qualities such as generosity and hard work, underscoring the importance of determination.

Ultimately, I realize that my family has crafted the foundation of my identity, offering emotional support and cultural values that guide my life choices. Through them, I’ve learned crucial life lessons and faced challenges, making me equipped for success. I owe much of who I am to my family's unwavering influence.

How Has Your Family Influenced Who You Are
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How Has Your Family Influenced Who You Are?

Your family has a profound influence on your behavior and how you engage with the world. Family relationships are particularly impactful during childhood, deeply embedding themselves in our psyche as we learn and grow. Kids, resembling sponges, absorb lessons on interaction through imitation from their families, which shapes their identities and core beliefs. These familial narratives provide a sense of belonging and empowerment, as sharing stories helps us derive meaning from past experiences.

While parents and friends guide individual beliefs and behaviors, peer pressure can lead adolescents to form independent views that may diverge from parental expectations. Various areas of life—including emotional health—are affected by family dynamics. The environment provided by families not only consummately shapes identities but also fosters perspectives, beliefs, and faith. Recognizing the influence of one's family of origin is crucial, as it affects adulthood behaviors and expectations.

Studies indicate that family context and diversity play significant roles in shaping worldviews and interpersonal relations. Positive family environments characterized by love and support enhance mental health, whereas negative experiences can hinder development. Family instills our moral codes, shaping our definitions of right and wrong. A nurturing family can enhance personality traits and potential, guiding individuals through challenges and fostering growth. Overall, families are foundational in developing values, encouraging curiosity, and nurturing qualities such as confidence and compassion. Families not only shape who we are but also inspire us to extend their positive influence to others.

How Does Family Develop You As A Person
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How Does Family Develop You As A Person?

Family influences individual development in multiple aspects: spiritually, socially, financially, morally, and martially. It serves as the primary institution for training and nurturing potentials from childhood to adulthood. Families provide essential lessons through devotion that aid spiritual growth and shape character, values, beliefs, social skills, and self-image. The significance of family lies in its subtle yet profound impact on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through established beliefs and expectations.

Research indicates that parental behavior in early years influences life outcomes decades later, with children's temperament also playing a role. Socialization within families fosters interaction skills and identity formation. Families, defined as groups connected by blood, marriage, adoption, or close ties, offer emotional support vital for well-being, economic security, and personal growth. Family-oriented individuals prioritize their loved ones' needs, recognizing the evolving nature of family dynamics and the potential for change.

Understanding one's family background aids in self-discovery and personal development. Healthy family environments promote love, safety, and support, laying a solid foundation for future relationships and personal identity. Families challenge perspectives, stimulate intellectual growth, and impart crucial values, ultimately shaping personality traits and life skills critical to an individual’s holistic development.

How Your Parents Shape You
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How Your Parents Shape You?

Our relationships with our parents significantly shape who we become. Their interactions with us, whether they meet our needs, and how they manage their emotions can profoundly affect our self-esteem, coping mechanisms, and overall mental well-being. For instance, high parental expectations may lead to better academic performance. Research indicates that early parental behavior influences life outcomes even decades later, with studies showing distinct effects based on children’s temperaments.

Only children, facing direct expectations without sibling support, often develop heightened sensitivity to these pressures. The quality of love received from parents can deeply impact a child’s life trajectory. Studies have uncovered connections between parental stress levels and children’s stress responses. Secure attachments foster a child's understanding of their world, while negative experiences risk creating challenges that persist into adulthood.

Parenting styles—from over-involvement to emotional neglect—leave lasting imprints on personality. Children raised in nurturing environments tend to develop healthier characteristics. Parents also model values and beliefs, directly impacting a child’s future attitudes and behaviors. As adults, we often reconnect with our childhood foundations, realizing that our character is shaped by early experiences, reinforcing the critical role of parent-child relationships in personal development.

How My Family Influence Me As A Person
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How My Family Influence Me As A Person?

The social support from loved ones is essential in fostering self-worth and self-esteem, particularly in a nurturing, safe environment characterized by encouragement and optimism. Family dynamics, especially in childhood, significantly influence mental health and interpersonal connections. Healthy communication, love, and affection within families aim to instill valuable traits in children, helping to shape their identities as they grow. Various external factors like trauma, poverty, and privilege can alter these developmental cycles.

Personal experiences with family play a crucial role in identity formation. Many learn fundamental values of love, kindness, respect, and honesty from their families, which shape their worldviews and behavior. Parents and peers further contribute to individual development through expectations and social pressures. Recognizing the impact of one’s Family of Origin is vital as it deeply influences adult beliefs and behaviors.

In my journey, my family has been instrumental in my growth. My mother's unwavering support has guided me through challenges and shaped my values. Spending quality time and navigating problems together enhances familial bonds. Overall, family serves as the foundational pillar in shaping personality, behavior, and responses to the world, emphasizing the importance of nurturing relationships for future well-being and self-identity.

How Does Your Family Help You Grow As A Person
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How Does Your Family Help You Grow As A Person?

A healthy and supportive family environment is essential for a child's exploration and development of talents, social skills, and emotional intelligence. Conversely, an abusive family dynamic can lead to struggles with anger, depression, and helplessness. Growing up in a large family presents unique benefits and challenges, influencing personality traits, social skills, and long-term well-being. Research emphasizes the impact of parents' behavior in early years on future outcomes.

Personal growth can be achieved by reframing one's mindset and taking gradual steps toward self-improvement. Family relationships foster development, autonomy, and a secure sense of self, which significantly affects brain development and self-worth. Understanding familial cultural backgrounds helps illuminate parents' influences on child-rearing practices. Supportive families provide motivation and encouragement, challenge perspectives, and introduce new ideas, all vital for personal growth.

Loving family environments create a solid foundation for future relationships, work life, health, and self-perception. Mental health can also benefit from strong family support, contributing to a healthier lifestyle and reducing stress. Overall, the emotional and social support derived from family relationships is instrumental in shaping individuals into positive community members while helping them achieve their personal goals and well-being.

How Can I Help My Child Develop A Strong Family
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How Can I Help My Child Develop A Strong Family?

Open discussions with children about crucial topics like religion and sexuality foster communication and aid in identity formation. Strong family unity enhances children's confidence, and affirming their choices promotes individuality. Regular communication and quality time are vital for robust parent-child relationships. Overcoming cultural and language barriers is essential to family engagement. Strong family values establish a loving and happy home, influencing morals and traditions.

Parents should prioritize quality time over quantity, focusing on meaningful interactions. Knowledge of child development allows parents to understand their child's unique needs better. Trust can be built by giving children responsibilities and recognizing their achievements. Research highlights that strong family bonds can mitigate mental health issues and contribute positively to behavioral development. To strengthen family ties, parents should cultivate resilience, prioritizing self-care.

Involvement in community activities can enhance children’s identities. Shared family time fosters connection and boosts children's self-esteem, providing them support for future relationships. Key strategies include: engaging one-on-one, expressing affirmation, participating in fun activities together, and maintaining a warm, supportive atmosphere. Building bonding rituals can enhance emotional health and family resilience, ensuring a nurturing environment for all family members.

How Does Family Shape Who You Are
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How Does Family Shape Who You Are?

Family processes significantly shape adult identity formation through various dynamics, including social control, warmth, responsibility, and hierarchical relations (Musick and Bumpass, 1999). The concept of "family" encompasses those closest to us, allowing for an exploration into how family customs and values mold individual identity. Often, the interplay of nature and nurture defines who we become, with family serving as the primary source of cultural socialization.

Our early familial interactions influence emotional health, self-confidence, and political and occupational identities. Family serves as a crucible for personal development, as we learn our values and beliefs from this foundational unit. The identity of one's parents—shaped by their cultural backgrounds—also impacts their parenting styles.

Additionally, maintaining a harmonious family dynamic contributes to individual confidence and social skills. Family narratives provide context for personal identity, revealing our origins and place within family and society. Strong family support fosters love and belonging, crucial for healthy development. Ultimately, while childhood experiences are significant, they do not solely dictate future identity, as individuals continue to grow through various influences, including friendships, education, and personal experiences.

What Makes A Family Unique
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What Makes A Family Unique?

Families communicate in diverse ways, from yelling to silence, and their enjoyment of spending time together varies. Recognizing what sets your family apart can enhance connections and help create the future family you desire. To begin, compile a list of 5-10 qualities that define your family, display it prominently, and integrate these traits into your daily life. A clear identity aids in prioritizing decisions and values. Celebrating unique family aspects—such as experiences, talents, and values—strengthens bonds.

A family's uniqueness doesn't necessarily stem from quirks; it’s about what makes it special for its members, which could be as simple as caring for each other. Every family, regardless of structure, has distinct personalities and traditions that contribute to its identity. With busy lives, it’s easy to let external culture shape family identity instead of the family influencing the culture. Strong family identities promote healthy self-images, especially in children.

Taking time to reflect on family characteristics and narratives fosters this understanding. Traditions form the backbone of family identity, embodying togetherness and shared values. Each family’s uniqueness offers a rich tapestry of culture, love, and support, highlighting the importance of recognizing and appreciating what makes each family special.


📹 INVISIBLE INFLUENCE: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior by Jonah Berger

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Freya Gardon

Hi, I’m Freya Gardon, a Collaborative Family Lawyer with nearly a decade of experience at the Brisbane Family Law Centre. Over the years, I’ve embraced diverse roles—from lawyer and content writer to automation bot builder and legal product developer—all while maintaining a fresh and empathetic approach to family law. Currently in my final year of Psychology at the University of Wollongong, I’m excited to blend these skills to assist clients in innovative ways. I’m passionate about working with a team that thinks differently, and I bring that same creativity and sincerity to my blog about family law.

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  • As a middle child, I learned that the oldest is always the favorite, but had the most pressure to achieve. The youngest was the most pampered, and expectations were low. As for myself, I was pretty much left alone to do whatever I wanted. But if I wanted something, I had to get it myself so I learned to be self reliant.

  • I’m an only child raised by only my mother. My father doesn’t pay child support or see me often, and when he does, he just gives me a dumb gift. My mom had me at a late age and never was able to get a college degree,so she’s stuck at a terrible job and is always very cranky and high strung. So, I grew up very sensitive and emotional. At school I will cry about the littlest things, or sometimes for no reason at all. The other students say that I’m just a selfish only child who just wants attention. I don’t try to cry, I just can’t help it.

  • One thing people often overlook about only children is that since they are the only ones they get very lonely on a whole different level than those with siblings. We never get nieces or nephews (unless by marriage) and we take all the blame! No bros or sis to blame it on. Its not the party people make it sound like

  • my older brother is very full of himself, expects everything to fall in his lap and is very offended when he can’t get what he wants, he is incompetent and deeply insecure. he is 31 and still lives home. i’m the youngest child, my parents and my older brother bullied me and now I suffer from anxiety, undeveloped social skills and paranoia. I left home 10 years ago at 19. Birth order has nothing to do with a child’s personality, only experiences shape them.

  • I think just as many only children end up more self-sufficient and mature, they have no choice but to interact predominantly with adults and they have no other siblings to share the load of parental expectation; its about the parenting approach that determines whether an only child is entitled or not.

  • I’m an only child and I absolutely love it! I’ve never wanted siblings. People always say that they get lonely but I never experience that. The only bad things that I experience is people saying that I must be a spoiled brat. I mean yeah I am spoiled but I’m not a brat, the only reason I’m spoiled is because I don’t have anyone for my parents to spend money on. I’ve also been told by people that I’m very needy and attention seeking but I mean I can’t really help it that I’ve always had attention. Overall I’d say I’m a happy, normal teenager.

  • why do people assume only children are always spoiled. like an only child probably does around 2/3 times the amount of chores someone with 2 siblings does but that’s never taken into account. also when you’re older you’re the only one there for your parents. my mum (only child) lives half a mile from her mum compared to her friend ( siblings) who travels the world

  • Being middle child is really hard. My mom always tells me to clean the floor, dishes and do the laundry. While the youngest child doesn’t do anything besides from laying in the bed. And when i ask my mom why its always me, she just said that because i’m older than her, the first child can’t do the chores since he’s a guy. But, my younger sister is already on his teen for fuck sakes! Damn, it really sucks. 😒

  • I find that being a middle child makes you feel stuck. It feels like no one cares about you, they all care for the youngest or the oldest. You get no attention whatsoever and whenever you achieve something, no one listens or bothers to take interest. It then starts a growing hate to your other siblings and you are always the easy target to be blamed in an argument. Like if this is you 😞

  • older kid- leader and loves his younger siblings but wishes he wasn’t the first. 1st middle child- hates the second middle child and is the rebel of the group. 2nd middle child- feels no one pays attention to him or her. But this make he or she strong but they long for more love. Last child- Has all the attention of everyone and is better at everything. Sad life

  • Actually being the youngest means your older sisters or brothers can push you around easier and feel like they can be rude to you whenever. Being the youngest doesn’t mean you get all the attention. Its my older sister that does. She get all A’s and does everything before me and my other sister. Being the youngest means you experience everything last so nothing is really new. So whenever I the youngest achieve somethings its no big deal as two other people in the family already have.

  • Yeah, I SUUUURE expect protection from everyone and ACHIEVE MY MAIN GOALS when I can barely talk to my parents about my goals for now without getting grounded, and I SUUURE am selfish, I am so selfish that once I gave up half of my toys to one of my relative’s kids (big mistake I never saw those toys again)

  • Everything about this article is wrong. I’m an only child and I am NOT selfish. I do everything to help other people, and only take what I’m given and I don’t demand things unless I’m tired and moody. So unless this article was made by a bunch if only children and legit scientists that CAN PROVE these things, it’s just simply wrong.

  • Im the youngest and im not very sociable and im not inspired to be better than my siblings because my mom keeps getting mad at me for doing things wrong and tells me I have to be like my brother. She says i have to get all these stupid awards and good grades like my brother and that actually makes me not want to try… :/ and also i never get to achieve my goals.. and my mom says i HAVE to be a doctor like my brother. She says I cant do doodles every once in awhile but i do doodles to relieve my stress sometimes.. also yes i know my mom is trying to make me have a successful life but cant i do what I want to so sometimes? :/

  • Im a middle child out of 5. 1. I am a slave that needs to do everything for the oldest children 2. I always get in trouble by the little ones 3. I rarely get anything 4. I am very social 5. I am competitive 6. I barely have anytime to spend by myself 7. I always need to go to the school that my older siblings went to

  • This is actually really true (at least for me and my siblings). My two oldest siblings are smarter and my younger sibling is good at sports and is very active is though not very smart. As a middle child, I do struggle being in the middle. Since I feel like I am not totally not on one side of the rope.

  • I’m the youngest and I’ve always been expected more than my older brother. In general I take on more responsibilities when he doesn’t feel he can do them himself. We have no competitiveness and we don’t really talk. I remember my parents were fighting one day and he was crying and wanted me to go back inside and get his quarters because we were supposed to be going to an arcade. I do get a bit more attention than he does but he hates attention.

  • the oldest brother in my family is very dark and curses a lot second oldest brother, loves music and always teaches me things third oldest brother ignores everyone and plays vide games me, loves family and tries to make friends buy can only make 2 handfuls my sister, don’t know her other sister, always out other sister, we don’t even live in the same house

  • I dint believe in this research. Human mental is too subtle, sophisticated and complex for scientists to understand or to gain insight. It depends on how parents treat their children as well. The ways in which parents treat their kids are strikingly different in each house/culture/country.// Thank you.

  • I was the oldest of two children in a very dysfunctional home. At a very young age my father began to load me up regularly with tasks for which I was not well suited. The stress was great, but I did want to be his “right hand man.” Later in life when it became necessary for him to cease this practice, he did not. I became resentful. Setting boundaries was a skill I never learned until much later….but only after getting killed in two divorces by women who were older than me and very dominant.

  • For me there are two outcomes of an only child- the one you covered and the one I had. The one I had is kind of all three rolled into one plus more independence. This is because I like many only children quickly found friends that I will be friends with when I am well past retirement who are kind of like siblings. I also wound up more independent as an only child- to the point where the best way to get me to do something as a toddler was to say you would do it for me. Over all i think your depiction of the only child is way different from reality.

  • I’m the oldest child; I’m the most artistic and musical, opposed to what the article said. I’m sociable. My sister is the middle child; She can be submissive but she’s also outgoing and excitable. She’s becoming bolder with every day. My brother, the only boy, is the youngest and can be dramatic but he’s really adorable. .3.

  • For me… Oldest child: An introverted, independent, artistic, questionable, confident, pushy, screen addicted, weaboo that takes responsibility for her own actions and forcefully makes her siblings like what she likes. Middle child (me): An introverted, independent, questionable, pushy, confident, weird, lit, chill, screen addicted, savage loner that knows what real life and fun is and is also going places. Youngest child: An extroverted, questionable, weird, lit, playful, artistic, confident, buddy that knows what fun is.

  • This is so much more different than my family. I’m the middle child and I take up the most responsibilities( I fulfill them ) I’m much better at school than my older brother is and I’m much more caring than he is. My younger brother looks up to me ( Im the middle child and the only daughter) more than he looks up to my older brother. I believe most of the information in this article is incorrect.

  • Older brother: goof ball, athlete, irresponsible Step Brother (only child at mom’s (raised with her)): selfish, needy Me: responsible, creative Younger step brother (only one like other step brother): caring, creative, looks up to me, and tries to be like me Youngest brother: only plays games, irresponsible, complains a lot, etc

  • Its actually true in my case. I am the oldest child. I have to take care of my little brother and I kind of feel responsible towards him. I am quite social but my brother is surely more social than me. You can say I am calm and laid back most of the time,rarely angry or panicked while my brother is more bubbly,funny,angry and a rebel kind of kid. Lol,sometimes our opposite personality makes me think if we are even siblings. But I love him nonetheless.

  • I’m an only child and didn’t grow up with cousins that would be mock-siblings and everyone I get to know after a while assumes I have siblings and get surprised that I’m an only child 🤷🏽‍♀️. This happens frequently. I asks what are the qualities they see in me they say it’s my wisdom and maturity. I tell them, both my parents are the eldest of each of their own siblings. Also I spend a lot of time conversing with elderly ppl.

  • I am an only child. I’m not selfish in the ways many are but I’m an introvert, game genius, big tempered (it runs in the family XD), always hungry child. I am mostly alone and have my own responibilites to carry out. I wouldn’t say I’m a leader in the way the speak, but I’m a leader in… a different way. I don’t know how to explain it.. but its weird. Now this is the part nobody belives me on. I had my own theory. This article is… for the most part true. Exept.. you can be the eldest, in the middle, or the youngest but still have different “ways” you do things. you could even be an only child but due to your “zodiac” (most people think zodiacs are nonsense, so if you do leave now before you cuss at me because I’m fairly young) you could have different personalities. its only a theory so pls don’t hate but thets my Story/Theory that most scientists would classify as illogical

  • I’m the youngest yet i don’t get any attention my dad dropped me at 3 I cut myself with a knife once yet my family is like you’ll be fine, and I’m always trying to care for my two older brothers by cooking, cleaning, making sure they do their school. The musicians, artist, and athlete is true also not social so what?

  • im the only child and im nothing like that 1. i am very shy around friends but ofcourse not bff 2. i dont expect my parents to give me what i want when i want it 3. i usually say “yes” to everthing 4. people told me im very friendly 5. i dont expect people treating me like a princess 6. im very responsible 7.i put others before me i can go on like forever critizing these sterotypes!

  • I’m the oldest child, I think in a logical way, I earn high grades and I’m very aware of people and know the old apples from the bad, I I have a small group of friends whom I trust dearly and generally don’t trust most other teens at my school, I’m also responsible and independent My younger brother is very sociable and knows and trust many people, he, like me, cannot be manipulated, he’s stronger then he looks and although struggles at school, he’s incredible at strategic games My youngest brother, since he’s 4 he can be bratty, but is really good at LEGO, like me he isn’t social

  • Siblings at my family: Oldest Child: obey everything what mom says but still not the favorite child but dad’s favorite, already close to the middle child Middle Child: the duo not the favorite child with the oldest child but still dad’s favorite, already close with the oldest sibling Youngest Child: always get spoiled both mom and dad’s favorite, never ever get close to the oldest and the middle child. Thats siblings at MY family TvT

  • Being a middle child, in the younger years, isn’t really something i find enjoyable (esp when my elder sis & younger bro gangs up on me) insert tears tears. But don’t despair my fellow middle children, life gets better for us. Now in my early twenties, I am the glue that binds us all and there’s no fun without me around. I hate to say this but uhhm the fam needs us, whether we are talky or just sitting silently in the corner, we, the middle people, are needed to maintain equilibrium 😂

  • I was an only child for 11years till my brother came 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I remember when I was 11 and I got less attention cause my brother came. I was fine though cause he did need attention. Its annoying now though because I get in trouble whenever he does something especially when I’m babysitting him it’s my fault. There r also pros though like sometimes I get more cause I’m the oldest. The annoying thing is that cause my dad got straight As and A*s I’m supposed to be as good. That’s what always motivates me to be amazing in school though so that’s how I’m smart cause I want to be better. Have a great day/night wherever u r😊

  • as the youngest child i am the most mature and honest while my sister will hit me, throw tantrums, and steal things from me if something doesn’t go ger way and she would usually hit for doing the simplest of things like telling her quiet down, plus i can’t do certain things when i want cuz she is older than me.

  • i’m a only child. you may think that we get all the attention and are pampered, selfish, needy etc. it’s not true. we always get lonely and our parents don’t always have time for us. my parents never had much time for me because they were so busy. i learned how to become more independent and cook for myself etc. also the stereotype that only children are spoilt isn’t true. i actually didn’t ask for many things like toys or crafts when i was younger. idk about other only child’s but i’m really introverted and need time alone from my friends sometimes. also when i tell people i’m a only child, some people LITERALLY ask “are you spoilt?” it gets so annoying. yea being a only child isn’t as fun as you think 🙁 it gets lonely sometimes…

  • I wonder if me being autistic resulted in an aberration in family dynamics compared to the norm. I was the middle child but in some ways was treated like the youngest, but in a few ways like the oldest. Academically, I was the top performer in my family and was the only one to get a 4 year degree. On the other hand, I’m 25 and the only one still living at home (my sister’s 27, married and has two kids, my brother’s 21 and just moved out last year).

  • We raised an only child and he was an amazing kid. He is very successful, an avid list maker, and self motivated. He has 2 great daughters and the only thing that drives him nuts is when they fight. As one of four I tell him this is completely natural. He never wanted a sibling and loved being an only.

  • I’m the oldest kid in my house and my sister is just perfect seeing her makes me feel so uncomfortable about myself she is everything I can ever be😭 Everyone likes her more than me whenever someone visits us they don’t even remember me but they bring gifts for my sister My sister never talks to me and she hates me so much Everytime she proves it my heart breaks

  • What the people in the comments dont understand is that this is many families are like. Remember… the upbringing of the child has a lot to do with this. Im 15 and a middle child and this really does fit me and my two brothers with a few differences such as my little brother being really spoiled. Both he and I Iearned to act appropriately but that does not mean that we dont have a few burst of anger every one in a while. Everyone is different and who we are cant be decided by one article. Many things change everyday and every human is unique.

  • Oh god I couldn’t imagine being an only child. The only one in my family who I know was one was my dad’s mum. I love my little and step sister so much! Yes we do have our fights like all siblings but apart from that they’re truly my best friends.💙💚Even though I’ve only known my step sis for a year it’s as if we’ve always lived together!

  • When you go to a school that your three older siblings went to and teachers who’ve had them compare you to them, it’s the worst. Especially if it’s a subject you despise or are not interested in. The school doesn’t even show how smart I am. I have barely passing grades, and I’m not great at tests, but every adult I have ever met says I’m smart. SO WHAT IS THE SCHOOL TRYING TO DO? Lower my self astee, and destroy my future?

  • As an only child I feel some may be pampered by their parents but however I feel at least in my family that you face more pressure to be the best and do better then everyone in your family as you carry on your family name. Being an only child more is expected of you and a lot of responsibilities. I’ll admit bring an only child may seem pleasant at times as u get more attention than those with siblings, but sometimes the attention can be overwhelming where u feel if u make a single mistake everyone will know and be disappointed

  • only child with a single mom so she was a bit busy keeping the house in order. the tv was kinda my baby sitter. never really learnt how to socialize with my class mates, so I became the quiet one.the only way I was “spoilt” was that I was a picky kid, and my mom didnt have the backup of another adult so she just gave in (mostly to do with food, clothes, and doing the work herself instead of trying to get me to help out.) age 14 my dad got my mom pregnant (unplanned) and I now have a little sister. I got a front row seat on what raising a child is like. i’m turning 25 this year.

  • im an only child, but with always busy parents, im always alone and sometimes i spend entire days without anyone to talk to since i was little. i always had to take my parents’ responsability ( i have badly divorced parents), and always had to be a parental figure for my younger cousins, I resemble more the first child but with less social skills.

  • i am the youngest child an actually my big sis get more attention than me and i am blâmes for everything and my parent tend to ignore me and trust more my big sis than me and they’re always ignoring me and when I am sick and it’s really Hurt they ignore me because they think I am faking but I am not 😧

  • “The youngest are to become the fastest athletes, the best musicians, and talented artists.” scoffs Excuse me. I’m the oldest and have way more musicality than my younger sister. She’s been playing for 6 years and can barely be able to distinguish what the name of a note is. This article is all wrong.

  • In my family, I was third-oldest of seven kidd, the youngest of which was born when I was 15. The first five kids were born in the first six years of my parents’ marriage. I was the middle child for seven years. The first two kids were both athletic and on little league teams, had horseback’riding lessons, etc. I was introverted, shy except for with my best friends, and decidedly NOT athletic, but excelled in academics and drawing and loved everything to do with babies, and there was always one in those early years. Birth order is interesting, and I identify with some middle child traits. But, what I think matters most is that parents are equipped to handle parenting (not just coralling, LOL) the kids they have. There was not adequate spacing between siblings, age-wise, such that infants and toddlers in our family got enough attention in the crucial early years. There is a lot about my childhood that I really appreciate. But there was so much stress, chaos and corporal punishment that I realized at age 63 that some of my problems are from cptsd from that environment. I also learned that corporal punishment in young children lowers IQ. There are many factors that are stronger than birth order, but I see how it can play a part.

  • Ppl may think, that the parents love the youngest child more, than the other ones. I am the youngest, and it’s really hard. I have to wash the dishes, wash the floor, take the dog for a walk, and take care of him, do the laundry, and my mom is always yelling at me, if i don’t do anything she say to me. My older brother always do this too, and my older sister is always have problems with me. Like why are you wearing this? you look like shit with this hair! Why didn’t you did the laundry? and other things. So annoying, and sadly I can say I only love my dad by my whole heart. I hope it’s get better soon. Sometimes I thinking about just packing up everything what i need, and go away with my dog as far as i can. And i know I should not think about things like that, but it’s always in my head.

  • Being an only child wasn’t the bad part. It was knowing that the beginning of my life marked the end of a marriage and it feels like now that I’m grown and don’t need to be taken care of, its like my parents are trying to get over their past and finally move on with their lives and just enjoy life and so Im just left to my own devices completely…..my mom and dad both came from huge families and it shows that they don’t understand that they are my closest family and I don’t just have siblings to go be around like they do. I am an only child who is unfortunately childless, but despite that life has placed my parents in the grandparent role and they seem to be enjoying that very much now. I’m not sure wether I should tell them about my feelings or keep it to myself I am grown after all. They deserve to be happy. But so do I.

  • I’m either an only child with an asterisk or an older brother with an asterisk. Long story short, my parents split when I was 7-ish and after that, half-siblings started to spawn. Dad got me a brother when I was 9, but he was the parent I was visiting, so I didn’t have to do much interaction with him – I did find the experience annoying tho, 9 is too late of an age to suddenly realise that you ain’t buying that candy bar just for yourself or that an uninterrupted sleep is not a guarantee anymore, etc. And from mom’s side, I had a brother when I was 16 – at least I was more familiar with the experience, but I was still not looking forward to ruining my lovely little status quo of solitude. I think I consider myself an only child that was forced into the older sibling role way too late to adapt for it. A psychologist told me that about 8 years is pretty much the cut-off point when you can truly consider yourself to be a typical older sibling. What am I like now? Mostly I still feel the only child traits – I need my own space, but I feel lonely a lot too. Can’t have thay cake and eat it too, I guess. I am very protectionistic about my comforts and “my time to myself”, I had to learn the value of money a bit late in the life too (though I wouldn’t say I was spoiled tho – I just hadn’t experienced a lot of fiscal responsibility), and I am still dreading the thought of asking someone for help in my time of need.

  • All of this is complete bullcrap. Every individual, no matter their position in the family have individual genetic predispositions towards certain characteristics. And these, in addition with the developing person’s life-experiences mold the personality. Outside influences can also drastically change someone’s personality, for example an outgoing and joyful kid might become a toxic introvert if someone bullies them at school for example. Every person is their own, and birth order has no bearing on it whatsoever. However parents tend to be stricter towards elder children and only children.

  • 1st Child, Boy: The Two-faced guy whose only nice when he wants something yet Mom still buys everything he asks for… (Mom’s Favorite) 2nd Child, Boy: A musically inclined person yet a rebel and One request and its all granted (Dad’s Favorite) 4th Child, Boy : A goofball who has the undivided love and attention from parents and gets everything he wants (Both of the parents Favorite) 3rd Child, girl: Gains recognition and has high grades yet Ignored by parents… Feels like an outcast being with them in a room, get scolded for everything due to the favoritism of parents… Has to beg for them to buy FOOD.. REALITY SUCKS 😞

  • Ok SO … If you are the middle child you get blamed for everything (even if you didn’t do it) because obviously the older child is supposedly supposed to be more responsible, and then the younger child is supposed to be more naive and not know what they were doing (WHEN THEY OBVIOUSLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING)*, and there’s also the fact that *your parents don’t even look at you, so that means that they don’t know how you behave. Anyways I could write a whole book about the reasons why being the middle child is awful, but this would only be page 1.🕵️‍♀️

  • Being an only child doesn’t means you will be selfish and too much wanting. I’m 13 and I am the only child of my parents (I’m commenting on my father’s account) and my parents always love and care for me, even they don’t give everything I want. I also don’t have any close friends and my school friends live far away from me. This is one con’s of only child. There are lots of pros of being an only child. Also without having any sibling will really make u feel lonely (my condition is worse)

  • What about those of us who actually fit into multiple groups? My mother already had a daughter when my parents got married. My dad adores my older sister and always considered her his daughter. But when they got divorced, I lived with my dad and my sister lived with my mom. We got separated because he hadn’t legally adopted my sister before they were divorced and the courts decided I was better off with my father. We still saw each other often, but lived like only children. I also have a younger sister from my dad’s second marriage, which made me the middle child (my older sister still spent lots of time with my dad’s family) and the oldest at the same time. Birth order doesn’t always easily describe kids anymore. With so many divorces and remarriages it sometimes seems like kid’s whose parents don’t get divorced are the weird ones…

  • I’m oldest of my siblings and one of the oldest of my cousins. My mom left me to take care of my younger brother a lot when I was little. Affect: well I often act like the adult when the real ones aren’t and instead of being reckless I try to find a peace treaty in the middle of a fight. I’m use to putting myself last after my younger cousins and brothers/sister. I’m also over protective. My brother says I’ll make a good mom one day and that he doesn’t know how people live with out big sisters.

  • I’m an only child, however this isn’t very accurate while yes, I am somewhat spoiled, I am not someone who expects attention, in fact I prefer not having a lot of attention on me. I don’t like that everyone stereotypes only children to be selfish brats, I’m not selfish, I don’t get everything I want, I work for what I want. I have never been that good at socializing, honestly I’ve always been quite socially awkward. I do have a cat, who is amazing and I love her so much, if anything she’s more spoiled than me (my fault honestly) but still, this article just says the stereotypes, which aren’t necessarily true, and it completely varies person to person

  • Middle child here. Only child’s are spoiled, dependent and entitled. Worked with one business major, mommy manager paid his college expenses dorm and tuition, paid off his car and offered to help fund a house for him, hooked him up with a job in this particular field that I’m in which he had no experience whatsoever yet is very competitive to get in. He eventually quit to do something else because he felt underpaid and former boss denied his raise request 😂

  • For Me – Bright Side this information is correct. It resonates with me because 1. I am a middle sibling of 3, younger sister and older brother, and 2. because of my experience in interacting with them and other kids I grew up with. I feel sorry for he only child and for those who have much older siblings and treated like an only child. The ones I come across are not so selfish but are very demanding in getting their way and expects everyone to cater to what they want. I have not had a lot of interaction with onlies but they leave a lasting impressing on me an yes they do act nervous a lot. My last boyfriend and his older siblings, 3 sisters, are ten years apart so for him it was like he had 4 mothers instead of siblings. They catered to him and spoiled him so that to this day, he is now middle age, he expect all women to do the same. For a little while I did and then got tired of it. He was emotionally distance to and did not talk at all. He wanted to be alone a lot. I had to end this unfortunately. He was not a bad guy. Just seemed anti-social. I love emotional intimacy and sharing life experiences.

  • Birth order plays a far more important role in personality than the influence of parental up bringing. There are many many genetic nuances however, that shape up the other half of our personality, or how we even perceive and respond to the sliblings and the parents. Noteably, some sibling have very large age gaps, in which case they may grow up like an only child, or in a different order. Our brains are most complex and amazing!

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