Today’s lunch was a yummy one, thanks to the use of a Thomas’ everything-flavored thin bagel.
Thomas' Everything Bagel Thin + Muenster Cheese
Everything-flavored thin bagels are the only thin bagels I enjoy. They have so much flavor and are doughy and delicious. Just like sandwich thins.
I ate the bagel thin topped with a slice of Muenster cheese and a side of cucumber and green pepper slices.
Lunch to Munch
Along with my veggies and bagelwich, I also had a cup of Fage Greek yogurt, sweetened with a scoop of chocolate instant pudding mix for some yogurt mousse! 😀
Fage
Monday Spread
YUM.
Now on to a fun discussion…
Birth Order
During the month of September, there were about a billion birthdays at my work. I’m not lying when I say that at least two birthdays popped up every week, and our office isn’t that big!
Birthday Girl (...in April)
Needless to say, lots of discussion about birthdays and birth order occurred.
I am the older of two girls in my family. In my psychology class in college, I was fascinated by the discussion about the impact of birth order on a person’s personality.
The more I learned about the characteristics of the first born, the more I fit the bill.
According to an article published by Judith Graham, extension human development specialist, common traits associated with the first born include:
- Perfectionist
- Reliable
- Conscientious
- List-makers
- Well-organized
- Critical
- Serious
- Scholarly
- Achiever
- Self-sacrificing
- People-pleaser
- Conservative
- Supporter of law and order
- Believer in authority and ritual
- Legalistic
- Loyal
- Self-reliant
The article notes that characteristics associated with middle-born children are often the varied and contradictory and may include:
- Mediator
- One who avoids conflict
- Independent and extremely loyal to a peer group
- Shy and quiet or friendly and outgoing
- Impatient and easily frustrated or laid back, taking life in stride
- Competitive or very easygoing
- “Black sheep” of the family or peacemaker
- Value friendships
- Compromising
It was interesting to read that the author claims middle children are often influenced significantly by the first born, stating, “the second born will be most directly influenced by the first born and the third born will be most directly influenced by the second born… If the second born senses he can compete with the older sibling, he may do so. But if the older sibling is stronger, smarter, etc., the second born typically shoots off in another direction. The general conclusion of all research studies done on birth order is that second-borns will probably be somewhat the opposite of the firstborns.”
The article then addresses last-borns, or the babies of the family, who often exude the following traits:
- Outgoing charmers
- Personable manipulators
- Affectionate
- Uncomplicated
- Sometimes a little absent-minded
- Carefree
- Vivacious
- People person
- Rebellious
- Temperamental
- Spoiled
- Impatient
Finally, the article touches on only children, noting the following characteristics:
- Share all of the traits of the first born
- Everybody’s rescuer
- Objective
- May be critical or cold-blooded
- Agonizes over the problems of others
When I looked at the characteristics associated with my birth order, I found myself nodding my head, for better or worse. I am definitely a people-pleaser (sometimes to a fault), self-reliant (I really value my alone time and independence) and well-organized. I also find myself abiding by the rules and am often overly critical of myself.
As I read the traits associated with the last-borns, my sister fits most characteristics as well. She’s definitely a people person, vivacious and affectionate… and also sometimes a bit absent minded (well, I think I have that trait, too… maybe because we’re blondes? 😉 ).
Sister, Siiiiiister (Love Tia & Tamara)
Question of the Afternoon
Do you think that you and your birth order fit the descriptions listed above? Do your siblings or children?
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HECK YEAH! I’m the oldest of three and definitely fit into all of those categories. My baby brother is similar to the youngest traits (he’s the rebellious one that gets tattoos and complains A LOT!)
October is the month of birthdays for my family and friends. Mine is in 11 days!
I have a younger sister, and both of us (in my opinion) fit these descriptions almost exactly! That is crazy!
ps~I just found your blog recently and I love it 🙂
haha i’m waiting for my sister to call me saying “hey! i’m not absent minded!” 😉
interesting article! I sort of fit into all of them. First born and only child to my mother until I was 16, and technically the exact middle when it comes to my dad (they’re divorced, remarried, were previously married and so forth – too complicated even for me!) though I never spent much time with these other siblings
I definitely fit best with the first born though!
So interesting! My degree is in Psychology, so I am quite familiar with birth order studies. I am the second of five, but was treated like the oldest, and consequently share almost all of the traits of a first-born.
By the way, your lunch looks so yum! I love Fage yogurt. I just had one with half a banana sliced up and mixed into it. I sprinkled some cinnamon on top for a fall treat 🙂
oooh i’m jealous. if i had endless amounts of time, lots of money & no full-time job i would seriously take loads of psychology courses for fun. i think they’re unbelievably interesting and really make us examine ourselves and those around us. such a neat degree!
Yep. Sometimes it amazes me how spot on these generalizations can be. But I am the middle child and always want to keep the peace and I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂 Have a great day!
I am a first-born and fit that description quite well (I am so over-organized that I even have a month-long, day-by-day plan for blog posts). So that is boring, but what is interesting is that my younger brother fits the first-born description much better than the last-born description. He’s almost five years younger than me, so I wonder how that impacted his development relative to other last-borns – and wonder if anybody has studied age gaps in siblings relative to personality characteristics.
it’s scary how true it seems!
I’m the last born in my family and I don’t really fit into any of those characteristics. I fit into a majority of the first born child characteristics. Hm… Thanks for sharing! I love your blog!
I’m a first born and all the items of the list apply to me except for the list-maker one!
Since I only have a brother and was an only child for 13 years, I also compared myself to the only child list and all of it applies to me too!
ryan is an only child & fits that description as well. he’s SO objective it’s insane!
I am the baby of the family, but I think I most resemble the first born characteristics. But two of my siblings are 20 years older than me- so maybe thats why!
Yep! I agree!! I have total middle children syndrome. Because of it, I only have 2 kids! 🙂 Kitchen closed!
Birth order is very interesting to read about! I”m a last born and I totally fit all the those described!
oh my gosh, my sister and i match that list to a T! that’s so crazy…i’m 100% the oldest 🙂
I’m sharing this with my mom – those descriptions match me and my younger brother perfectly!! Do you toast your bagel thins? I tried the Everything flavor last week and wasn’t a huge fan. Maybe I over-toasted?
I am a first born and I fit the EXACT description of one!
AWESOME post I love it! I am the middle of 3 girls and I live up to all of the middle characteristics!! Even when there was a OR .. yeah I am a bit of both haha. I can be shy or the most outgoing, I consider myself the black sheep but I am also the peacemaker! So interesting! Btw you and your sister are both beautiful! xoxo That was such a fun read!
I am the oldest of 3 girls, and each of us fits the birth order thing to a T. It’s so strange, really! But I am fascinated by it too!
I’m the baby and fit the first child list EXACTLY. My only sibling, who is actually the first born, fits the baby of the family list EXACTLY. Weird that we are opposite!
I’m the baby of the family, and I actually think I have characteristics from all the categories. I’m definitely most likely my sister, the first born and not like my brother, the second born. Still, it’s fun to use psychology to make you more self-aware! I also love reading astrology books for fun. The really specific ones are fascinating!
my family used to always joke that I managed to be all three personalities! I have one biological older brother and one younger step-brother. so technically i am the youngest, but my older brother and i are 10 years apart so it was like growing up a single child. then a younger step brother came along making it more i was an older first born (brother had already moved out of the house by then). and ultimately i am the middle child by marriage.
I am the oldest (off three), and I pretty much fit the description to a “T.”
Hey,
I read your blog every day but just never comment, however I love it 🙂
The funny thing is though, for my sister and I, we do not fit into those categories. She is first born and I am second, however I hold all the traits of the first born and she holds them for the last born. I knew I should have been born first 😛
I’m the youngest (of 2 girls) but I was defintiely more like an only child. That’s a whole other story!
I definitely resonate with those attributes most though 😉
I love the topic of birth order, in fact, I always say my boyfriend and I are stereotypical younger children! We may be 25 but we don’t take anything seriously. Studies say we won’t accomplish as much as our older siblings but that’s okay with me, I’m just want to be happy :):)
p.s. that picture of Sadie making this face :/ in your previous post cracked me up, hahah!
I find birth orders fascinating. Although, I’m the baby of the family and all my characteristics fit that of the first. I’m not sure what that says about me..
WOW, my sister and I are EXACTLY that, like literally every one! …Me being the baby and her being the first born, no middle sister!… btw, I just started reading your blog and I’m really enjoying it, the recipes are great, keep it up! 🙂
Wow great post!! Thanks for sharing this… I never really put too much thought into how birth order can affect your characteristics…
I am the oldest, and I am very, very close with my two sisters, and I would say these characteristics are bang on! I am very much a perfectionist which leads to my list-making and organization which leads me to be self-reliant! haha crazy!
That definitely applies to my family!
I read an article about how relationships between people of different birth-order (oldest + youngest, middle + only, etc.) are successful because each person looks to the other for their needs, whereas relationships where say both people are first-borns result in both wanting to be in charge, etc. Interesting, and I don’t know how true that is, but I think all of this genetic psychoanalysis is interesting!
Hey Julie! I was just wondering if you have any thoughts on Lebron coming to play for the Heat this year. I’m from Cleveland and I miss my Lebron but wanted to see if you are pumped that he’s playing in your state (i know not your city). LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog!
hi jess! i’m going to defer to ryan for the answer to this comment:
As an avid Bulls fan, I think Lebron made a poor choice. It seemed like a consesus opinion that if Lebron’s decision came down to winning then Chicago provided the best opportunity. Needless to say, I’m a still a bit bitter (it doesn’t help Boozer just broke his hand, and Noah signed a bloated extension). All-in-all, I hope Miami doesn’t win a single game all year and if the Bulls have a bad year I’ll probably be rooting for some type of serious injury to ‘the big three”, j/k…maybe. As for your Cavs, well i’m sorry. If Mo Williams is your best player you’re looking at a top 3 pick. My advice would be to take the year off the NBA and really get into March Madness, then when the Cavs hold the top pick after finishing 10-72 you’ll have something to look forward to 😉
Great comment! Keep the sports comments coming!
I was just thinking about this the other day when I saw that Julie was wearing Heat colors! I am also from Cleveland and I have often thought about the serious injury to the big 3. I am holding a grudge. He should remember he is no Jordan! Lebron needs to learn some humility. He has left a bad taste in the mouths of Clevelanders. Sorry this had nothing to do with birth order! LOL 🙂
i just forwarded your comment to ryan. i assure you that you just made his day. 🙂
I completely agree with you! Chicago would have been the best choice. Thanks for the advice! Guess I’ll just have to find another team to root for now. Cleveland’s not lookin’ too hot.
-jess
Hey, I just want to say your blog has now inspired me to make my own foodblog!! and I was wondering if you could give me some tips. Im pretty good with computers, but when it comes to blogs not so sauve haha
And it would be nice to hear from a fellow blogger
thanks!!! a happy hello from nova scotia!!!
I am a Only Child (yes it was a bit boring), but I see myself fitting all of these qualities!
I am actually excited for midterms because I Am Ready! Which makes me an achiever and scholarly, ha I can be critical or cold blooded ( I am working on this though) I do worry about people all of the time, AND
I am pretty darn serious, I always have been, I was even a serious baby (my parents had to wait 3-5 months for me to smile)
It makes sense AND I love psychology! 🙂
It’s funny…I fit all of the first born characteristics, while my older brother meets the second-born ones!! My mom always says we were raised like only children though, so maybe that’s it 🙂
My family fits the birth order characteristics to a T! I’m just like the first born. My sister went the complete opposite of me, and my baby brother is such a schmoozer…in a good way 😉 I’ve always thought birth order things were interesting…and never would have guessed I’d end up married to an only child! Kinda interesting!
hhmm I dont know. I am the baby but def share more traits of the first born. Maybe I am just weird? who knows!
The first born definitely fits my oldest brother but I don’t feel like the youngest fits me exactly. Well maybe the spoiled part haha
oh yes! i am the oldest and am definitely serious, a perfectionist, reliable, organized, etc. and my sis shares many of the traits (we’re the only 2) but she’s much more outgoing and such. 🙂
My personality absolutely matches with the first-born traits. My husband and I are actually both first-borns who have younger brothers. We all match up with the birth order personality theories! Crazy.
My fiance and I are both first born and are exactly the same with who we are and how we see the world. We both have younger sisters.
Our sisters also fit the personality traits lists. However his sister is a little more responsible and my sister is not humble and expects the world to solve her problems. But the rest of the traits fit.
With knowing these things do people stop at one or keep going, hoping to have a couple of well rounded kids. But from watching other people and my own family I know that a lot more than birth order determines the values children learn and take on.
I am the middle child and fit most of the description – I am definantly the peace-maker, and avoid conflict. I am more mature than my older sister, and I actually think she respects me more than i respect her……….
When I was little I looked up to her a lot, but I don’t anymore. I am quite independant now, and think I have the best relationship with my parents. But I still feel like I have middle-child syndrome, a bit, if it even exists. I just feel like i’m not appreciated much, i dunno.
No-one really understands my feelings and emotions a lot of the time, which can make it feel really lonely. Like, when i’m really depressed (which isn’t often), no-one asks how I am, but when I am in a slightly bad mood, my mum’s like “What’s wrong with you?!?!?! Has something happened?!?!?”. I never know how to talk to anyone about really private things in my family.
I feel like sometimes it’s just me and my dad trying to hold the family together. I feel like I have to be strong ALL the time, I have to be the bigger person in every situation.
Those attributes line up perfectly with me and my brothers! I’m thinking I like being the first born 🙂
It fits us to a tee. I’m the oldest of four girls and I’m exactly everything on the first born list.
I’m the youngest and I fit into the description very well. My sister is the middle born and fits that description well. My best-friend is an only child and fits that description well. My brother is the first born but I don’t find that he fits most of that description.
Im the baby, but i think i fit the first born more and my sister fits the second. We are VERY opposite and shes the crazy one! My family think it stems from her being the FIRST baby born into our family in general. She was the first grand child, first neice, etc.. So she was very spoiled for about three years.. Then i came along and rocked her world! She had some adjusting to do when she wasnt the only one, and i think it traumatized her. LOL!
Great post! So interesting. I am an only child and I fit the bill on this. Even the negatives points. 🙂
I actually was just learning about this (for the like, 5th time) in one of my classes last week. I’m a first born and I fit a few characteristics of the first born but my brother doesn’t really fit the last born characteristics he is definitely more of an achiever and perfectionist than I am. I actually fit more of the creative, rebellious last born description! However we learned that the farther apart you are in age, the more likely it is that the last born will take on characteristics of the first born because the first born usually isn’t around when the last born is older due to college, work, etc.
Hmm my baby brother definitely fits the youngest description, and I can see a some of the middle born in me, but my older brother is NOT organized, a list maker, or a perfectionist!
I love believing in things like this…but sometimes it doesn’t always work 🙁
I am an only child, and the description fits me to a tea! Thanks for posting it. I feel that sometimes only children get a bad rap for being selfish, but this list it seems doesn’t mention that at all 🙂 My husband is a first born and the description doesn’t fit him as much. Hmm.
I love studies like these. Psychology and anything medical are my favorite subjects 🙂
Hi Julie- I loved the carrot cream cheeses recipe, and those gardenias are lovely!
I’d like to respond to Ryan’s post about Lebron James because I am a Heat fan and I live in Orlando. I don’t know where Ryan works, but judging from all you’ve posted about him I will guess it is Auntie M’s Pretzels in Oveido Mall. Keep in mind that Oviedo Mall has a Sears, a Radio Shack, and a Wet Seal. Now let’s say that American Cookie Company (competitor of Auntie M’s) offered Ryan a job at their location in the Florida Mall. Remember that Florida Mall has an Armani Exchange, an M&M store, and Bucca Di Beppo. Plus they told Ryan he got to take two of his friends along with him- are you telling my you wouldn’t jump at this chance Ryan? Same deal with Cleveland vs. Heat- think about that. See- I got you!
pssssh! i’d take it! 🙂 see ya, oviedo mall! 🙂
This is eerily accurate in my family! Like you, I totally nodded my head throughout for myself and for my sister and brother. Nuts!