Some people will be affected by more than one Birth Order, e.g. I am an OLDEST CHILD, OLDEST GIRL and OLDER SISTER OF A YOUNGER SISTER.
The second paragraph under ONLY CHILD is very important... that you are classed as an ONLY CHILD if you have brothers or sisters 6 or more years younger. A 6 year gap anywhere, changes things e.g. my mother had a sister born first, followed a year later by a brother, then her... and 8 years later, another brother. So she is classed not as a MIDDLE CHILD, but as a YOUNGEST CHILD and YOUNGEST GIRL. She would still have some characteristics of a YOUNGER SISTER OF AN OLDER BROTHER, and also maybe OLDER SISTER OF A YOUNGER BROTHER. But her main characteristics are of a YOUNGEST CHILD and YOUNGEST GIRL.
I have 6 children, with the oldest one, Rachel, being 6 years older than the next, Natalie. Then Kyle was born 3 years later, Vanessa 2 years after him, Tammy 4 years later, and Troy 1 year later.
So Rachel is classed mainly as an ONLY CHILD and ONLY GIRL. But she would still have some characteristics of an OLDEST CHILD, OLDEST GIRL and OLDER SISTER OF A YOUNGER SISTER.
Natalie would be most like an OLDEST CHILD, OLDEST GIRL and OLDER SISTER OF A YOUNGER BROTHER, plus possibly YOUNGER SISTER OF AN OLDER SISTER.
Kyle, Vanessa & Tammy would be MIDDLE CHILDREN, with Troy as a YOUNGEST CHILD and YOUNGEST BOY.
Kyle would also be classified as a YOUNGER BROTHER OF AN OLDER SISTER, and OLDER BROTHER OF A YOUNGER SISTER.
Vanessa would also be a YOUNGER SISTER OF OLDER BROTHER and OLDER SISTER OF YOUNGER SISTER.
Tammy would also be a YOUNGER SISTER OF AN OLDER SISTER and OLDER SISTER OF YOUNGER BROTHER.
And Troy would also be a YOUNGER BROTHER OF AN OLDER SISTER.
But the MAIN characteristics Kyle, Vanessa and Tammy would have is that of MIDDLE CHILDREN, with the other Birth Orders being secondary.
Complicated?? Don't forget to read the Postscript which is also very interesting.
It is all far more clear-cut when there are only 2 children in the family!
