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Health & Fitness

Jockeying For Position...

     Perhaps, it is due to my 'first-born' status, within the large, family, fold that I belong to, or, it is, simply, because of the personality that I possess, but, I can not recall...not even once, when I have felt anything, or, displayed behavior(s), akin to 'sibling-rivalry'. Mom tells me that when my brother, next in line, a mere eleven months my junior, entered our household, I called him 'goggy', as, seemingly, I thought I'd been gifted a new, pet, puppy! Birth-order, and, the dynamic that it creates in a family, amongst the siblings existing therein, is a fascinating topic. The 'syndromes' which occur, simply by the placement or position of a child, who shares family-space, with fellow, family, members, has been the topic of many, in the field of human-behavior(s), over the years. We're all familiar with the 'middle-child syndrome'; this, which includes 'symptoms' such as low self esteem, resentment, from the lack of personalized attention, and rebelliousness. Middle-children, may, also, have the tendency to be extreme 'people-pleasers', this, according to researchers and experts on the subject. How the 'pecking-order', within a family, impacts on each, it's, members, is the topic of professionals, and, non-professionals, alike. It has been, over the years, relative to my being the firstborn-child, that I have been at the 'butt of jokes', within my family, most of which infer the I am the 'FAVORITE-child'. I know that my sisters and brothers tease me, and, that this comes out of 'poking' good fun; Although, once, in 'self-defense', I responded to them this, 'You're all correct when you say that I am the favorite. Mom, so, likes me best, that she birthed me first!' For those who remember them, the 'Smothers Brothers', Tom and Dick, used some of the 'sibling-rivalry' stuff in their stand-up comedy routine, with Tom, always telling his brother, Dick, 'Mom ALWAYS liked you best!' The topic is telling, and, is one that produces many an opinion. I've been interested in it, for years, as, with coming from such a large group, varying character and personalities abound. The bottom line is that, whether it be 'Nature, or Nurture', we're all very, different and exquisite beings. Ideally, we would all get along, both within and outside of our own familial group, regardless, of our individual personalities and quirks. I recognize that I'm an 'idealist'; Is this a trait of a first-born child? Most 'experts' suggest that it is more that of a 'youngest-child'. Heck, what do they know! Just Sayin'...

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