The order in which children are born into a family can influence self-esteem and relationships, but it does not determine a person’s life. Many individuals grow up with the belief that their position within a sibling group reflects their character, impacting their confidence and interactions with others. The question of responsibility often falls to the eldest child, perhaps the calmest middle child, or the youngest with the most carefree opinions.
However, Catherine Carr, an author of a book on complex relationships between children within families, emphasizes that birth order can influence identity formation, yet it doesn’t fully dictate it. “The dynamic between siblings is almost infinitely complex,” Carr stated to Newsweek. “The firstborn will always be first and often will feel they’ve lost their turn.”
