Birth Order Analysis 101

Tonight I was just listening to the girls talk, and how they reacted to something (can't even remember what) made me think about how different they are. They have been raised the exact same, but have such distinct, different personalities.

Here's how first-borns (Macy) are described on a web site I found, with italics on what fits Macy best:

First borns – the leaders, the drivers and the responsible types. These people like to manage others but first they need to manage themselves. They love to feel in control and can feel uncomfortable with surprises or feeling out of their depth. They are conservative in their outlook, which is both a strength and a weakness. Their ability to focus on a goal and their propensity to organise others means they can achieve whatever they put their minds to.

Their tendency toward perfectionism can mean they can be low risk-takers but they can be the rock around which organisations can be built. Approval of authority is important for this group so don’t expect them to rock the boat too much. First borns, above all else, want to forge ahead.

This fits her pretty well--she is not a risk-taker, and won't try anything new unless her sister or someone else does it with her. She is deeply concerned about what others think about her, and is very shy in unfamiliar situations. For the most part, she listens to what we say, and ALWAYS listens to her teachers or someone in charge. She gets her feelings hurt frequently, and cries a lot. She is responsible, and loves school. She worries when she doesn't get her homework done, and worries about situations before they happen. She does not like attention brought to her, and gets embarrassed easily. She is loyal to her friends, and doesn't like letting them down.


And from the same web site, how youngests are described:

Youngests – the initiators, ideas people and the challengers. This group are the creative, live-for-the moment types who can put some fun and verve into activities. While the message for first borns is to lighten up, it seems that this group need to take things more seriously sometimes. Great initiators and very impatient doers, they persevere to get something started but often are not the greatest of finishers. This group will often do anything to be noticed so make sure you pay heed to their efforts. Youngests, above all else, will blow your mind.

Kaylin, from the moment of birth, has been a happy child. Always smiling, and happy with everything. That's not to say she doesn't get mad or throw fits, because she does, but she is generally happy. She's the one who spent four months in a body cast without any complaining. She can't sit still-always up doing something. She definitely needs to take some things more seriously, and I'm sure she will get herself in trouble in kindergarten. She's very impatient, and if you don't move fast enough for her, you get a loud sigh and a eye roll. Kaylin loves attention, and doesn't shy away from it like her sister. When in an unfamiliar situation, instead of drawing in like Macy, she turns silly and goofy to cope with the situation.

That, in a nutshell, is my two girls. They look different on the outside, and are completely different on the inside as well. I think that is one reason they fight so badly--they both handle things so differently.