how did your position in your family affect you and your life.

I was the 4th girl with a youngr brother. My family treated both myself and younger brother as the babies, we were always bought treats and taken on outings by our older siblings. I can't think of any way it really affected me badly or otherwise.

I'm a middle child - a girl between two boys. My mother worshipped my older brother but he was packed off to boarding school aged twelve because we followed Dad on his overseas postings. I hero worshipped him but I didn't really know him. I'm much closer to my younger brother because we grew up together but with a six year age gap I was very much 'big sis' who looked out for him.

I was a tomboy and very close to my father who sadly died when he was only fifty. This major tragedy in my life probably affected me but I've always got on with things. I don't think I have a problem with self esteem. Far too much to do.

When my older brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago I was the first person he phoned. I was quite touched by that.

The ties that bind and all that.

At the risk of being trivial ........

Middle child and it sucked, wasn't a happy child.

Same as harrigran for me too.

That just about sums it up for my DC MawBroon
although, speaking as a 'youngest' myself, that slogan most definitely does not apply to me!

I was the oldest of 5, but left before number 5 was born. I was the one who had to babysit from age of 8 onwards, and I was the one who got into trouble when the others tittle-tattled.

I was the youngest of three sisters. Our father died when I was nine, so we girls and our mum were a very close-knit little unit. I suppose I was spoilt being the 'baby' of the family, but I felt very loved and secure until I had to go anywhere without my family. Suffered anxiety and low self-esteem all my life, even after marrying and having four children.

I'm not sure how my position in the family affected me really, but it is hard being the only one left now mum and both my sisters have died. We were always best friends up to the end.

A massively clever elder sister who was blonde, blue-eyed and stunningly beautiful. Yeah, it affected me.

I was the eldest of 2 girls. There is a 5 year gap between my sister and I. I was born in 1962. My parents were young (mum 21 and dad 25) but both very old fashioned considering it was the 60's. My mum hero worshipped my overly strict dad and his word was like Gods law. In his/their infinite wisdom they refused to allow me any kind of sex education and kept me out of classes at school. I got pregnant at 17 and became a single parent at 18. Made my bed and lay in it. I was terribly lonely and never really made any friends as spent my entire young life looking after a baby and working full time. This is partly why I look after my own GDC so often.

I Made it very easy for my goody two shoes younger sister who was a saint.

Meant to add that we were brought up not to "show off" and can't remember ever being told I was clever, pretty etc. I wasn't but they could have lied. Subsequently I have a very low opinion of myself and lack self confidence. As predicted I never mounted to anything much. I have always told my children and grandchildren that they are amazing (I'm not lying) and they are.

I was an only child. Not spoilt, as parents could not afford to . I was lonely at times and remember wishing I had a sister . My father died when he was just 53 and my mother 3 years ago at 79. I moved into my mother's home and cared for her for 11 weeks of cancer diagnosis and wished for a sibling again. Once she died it struck me that all our family memories cannot be remembered and shared anymore.

gilly, I don't think you realise how special you are. I know how caring you are as you helped me when I was at my lowest

Oldest of 2 sibling was a brother 7 years younger ( mother lost a baby between us and took a long time to get pregnant again) I was spoilt as an " only" for 7 years mainly by my nana , we were her only grandchildren my fathers mother had many others. My brother and I are not close and hardly see each other I left home when he was 12. I had a lot of self esteem issues as a child and young adult but not sure if it was because of my birth order

Eldest child ...the responsible one..5 years older than my brother ...the first port of call for any problems even 60 odd years later still big sister

I am the youngest of 4 by 10 years, eldest 2 (16 &13 years older than me))were girls who ran my DM ragged, Brother (10) was and still is the little Prince but he hated me when i came along as i stole his thunder.I weighed 3lbs 9 oz so was very tiny and very ill but had very gorgeous black thick curly hair and everyone adored me DB would do anything to hurt me when i was little, he "bounced" me out of my pram and gave me my Dads razor to play with when i was 3 or 4. He refused to speak to me until i was a teen and he then became the protective big brother.He went to the Navy when i was 6 so although i was one of 4 i was also an only child who was given the world but never spoiled as my Nana would never allow that behaviour.
My sisters always said i was indulged but our Brother was and still is a little Prince

I'm the eldest of four but the only girl. My mum preferred boys and ruled the roost.

I am the middle child of three. Apart from anxiety issues when my parents split when I was a young child (5) I've always been happy and just got on with things. I think my single parent mother (she never remarried) didn't have time to single anyone out so she treated us all the same. We had to grow up fast as she worked full time, so I had a list and a budget and the cash and would do the weekly shop for the whole family by the age of 10. As children we had to do that in turns. I only realised afterwards what an important education that was.

I was the goody two shoes who would run to my grandparents (we'd be looked after there after school) to report the mischief that my older sister and younger brother would get up to, which did not well please them, so they would gang up on me, but it never bothered me nor stopped me!

I was an only child, not spoiled but I am now bossy, confident and love to organise everyone. I was a manager from my middle twenties and for the rest of my career. These traits are not always popular I have to add.

I was the youngest of four, born at the end of the war. My three siblings were adults by the time I came along. My father spoiled me and my mother considered me an inconvenience. My relationship with her was turbulent and I resented the way she treated my father, but did not have the maturity until much later in my life to appreciate what made her the way she was. Like others, I had a lot of self esteem issues as both a child and an young adult.

my DIL was the baby in her family and my son her husband was the eldest in mine. It is really noticeable in their marriage that my son takes all the responsibility and does most of the caring within the home. When she has a day off work she doesnt do anything in the house she goes out shopping with friends or for lunch. My son does housework, washing, food shopping, childcare and gardening weather permitting. I have been to visit on a weekend and DIL very often still in bed at lunchtime 'havig a lie in'. She was never given responsibility whilst growing up and this is certainly being carried on into her adult life.

I'm the eldest of 2 girls - my sister is 9 years younger than me. As I was born in 1936 I grew up during the war, Dad was away fighting and I had little or no supervision so became very independent. And wild. But also insecure.
My sister, born 1945, is quite different, much more confident.

I am the middle of 3 girls. The older one clever, attractive, popular, the younger the apple of my Mother's eye. I always felt left out and jealous. Now I am the only one married with children and 5 grandchildren but even at 70 the past hurts don't totally go away. My Mother finally told me for the first time on her deathbed at 100 that she loved me and I had 'turned out much better than she'd expected.'Sad of me to still care at my age, but true. At least as a result my husband and I try really hard with the middle grandson so that he doesn't have the same hang ups.

Our middle child gets the most attention!