1167 – Birth Order and Sibling Rivalries
Nancy: Isn’t this a great time of year? Families get together over the holidays.
Yasmani: Maybe it’s nice for some families, but I dread my family get-togethers.
Nancy: How come?
Yasmani: I have a big family and there has always been a lot of sibling rivalry.
Nancy: I’m sure that was true when you were growing up, but you’ve all grown out of it, haven’t you?
Yasmani: Not us. The firstborn still thinks he’s in charge, the middle children still act up to get attention, and the baby of the family is still rebellious.
Nancy: That’s true in a lot of families.
Yasmani: Yes, but when we get together, we compete to show up the others. We brag, argue, and nitpick. It’s rather pathetic, actually.
Nancy: How do your parents handle all that?
Yasmani: They’ve always left us to our own devices. We just fight it out amongst ourselves.
Nancy: So, there’s no loving bond between the siblings.
Yasmani: Oh, we love each other, but we compete with other, too. It’s complicated.
Nancy: Then I should be glad to be an only child?
Yasmani: That’s right. Count your blessings!