According to the article “How Your Birth Order Influences Your Life Adjustment” by Lueicle Forer. People’s birth order influences their lives. In their lives, an important part of their identity is their family position. The birth order can influence altitudes or minds. The other members of the family assume certain attitudes toward each child in terms of his birth order. Your place in your family establishes a specific role group.
This article reminds me of one of my classmates. I have a Chinese classmate who is the oldest son of his family. His name is Tom. Since his young brother was born, he had to take care of his young brother. His parents were busy and they thought Tom had responsible to do that, because he is the oldest one. For example, if his young brother made mistakes, he had to be severely scolded by his parents. He did not understand why he had to listen that, even he did not make mistakes. Since he was young, his parents have had high expectations for him. Because he was the first child, his parents wanted to make him perfect, and then his young brother would follow him. So he has a lot of pressure. All of this because of his birth order.
In my opinion, if you were the oldest child in your family, you should be more capable and more responsible than the young children. If you were the middle child, you should more capable than the youngest child, and sometimes turn to an older sibling or his parents for help when you need. If you were the youngest child, you would not need concern because there are always others around to take care of you, and you just develop your self-concept.
In contrast, if you did not have other brother or sister, you are the only child in your family. You should learn to take care of yourself as much as possible.
In conclusion, child becomes known as the family’s only child, oldest child, middle child or youngest child, depending on his birth order. An important part of identity is family position. Even the only child tends to think he has to take care of himself. The birth order makes specific patterns of behavior. I think we have to good out our own position in family.