Have a Survey I need to do for school

[Joshmil53]

I'm doing a paper on whether or not being the youngest sibling is affected mentally. If you guys wouldn't mind filling this out for me I'd greatly appreciate it.

http://kwiksurveys.com/app/rendersurvey.asp?sid=wv30rg4pg5v6zu8144737&refer=

 

[Tabascocat]

completed

 

[muck4doo]

That didn't take long. I'm the oldest of 4 siblings, and think myself and the youngest did get most of the attention. Parents did a much better job with the youngest than they did with me, but they were young and learning parenthood and dead broke with me. Time's were also different. I grew up in the 70's and 80's. Youngest was growing up in the 80's and 90's. 14 years old and started a smoking habit(parents only took my cigs away a couple of times), coming home drunk at 12. Hanging out in the neighborhood at all hours. That didn't fly in the 90's for the youngest, but was more acceptable then. Getting my butt beat bad when I really messed up, never saw youngest get beat. I'm also male, and youngest is female, so I'm sure that plays a part too.

 

[Hoofbite]

Interesting couple questions.

I know there's the common belief that the "baby" gets more attention. The guys on Duck Dynasty heck the hell out of their youngest brother because he's pampered all the time.

I'm not sure you can get a direct answer to it. From a siblings perspective I would guess most older kids do feel their younger siblings are given more attention but that's likely because they weren't old enough to remember how much attention they received as a younger child (provided we're talking about young kids.....say an 6 year old with a 1 year old sibling).

I'm sure if mom had to come in and wipe the 6 year old's butt for him, bathe him, dress him, and do all the other chores associated with small kids that he'd feel like he's getting more attention.

Do younger kids get attention because they need it more? Smaller, more likely to get hurt both physically when compared to the older kids who are doing the same activities. More likely to run to mom when they are hurt physically or emotionally. Likely some age range where the smaller kid cannot do the same activities so he's left at home with the parents. Older kid is out playing and isn't around to even get attention.

Who knows. I've heard of beliefs that say younger gets more or older gets more. Guess why being the middle sucks. You hit that prime spot where the youngest is too young to be as independent so attention is given simply out of necessity and your older sibling is at an age where certain privileges are starting to be bestowed on them. Later curfew, more independence, involvement in activities probably higher just based on opportunity. Involvement comes with expenses......"you bought him a new item, why not me".

From all accounts my mom watched me like a hawk when I was really young. She even went as far as preventing my uncles from all their hazing rituals that all of my cousins were tormented with at a younger age. Anyone ever been "Snipe Hunting"? They built that up for years because my mom wouldn't let me go. By the time she did, the whole idea of it was kind of busted because I was old enough to catch on in a timely manner. My brother on the other hand didn't get that nearly as much.......certainly wasn't protected from my razzing.

I'd be interested to see your conclusions.

 

[Hoofbite]

That didn't take long. I'm the oldest of 4 siblings, and think myself and the youngest did get most of the attention. Parents did a much better job with the youngest than they did with me, but they were young and learning parenthood and dead broke with me. Time's were also different. I grew up in the 70's and 80's. Youngest was growing up in the 80's and 90's. 14 years old and started a smoking habit(parents only took my cigs away a couple of times), coming home drunk at 12. Hanging out in the neighborhood at all hours. That didn't fly in the 90's for the youngest, but was more acceptable then. Getting my butt beat bad when I really messed up, never saw youngest get beat. I'm also male, and youngest is female, so I'm sure that plays a part too.

I think some of it is just changing of times as well as acquiring skill. The stories I hear from my father about what his dad would do to him when he acted up are almost hilarious because they seem so out of the norm now. In the military with 8 kids, my grandfather wasn't known to have sit down talks for misbehavior. If you screwed up, you knew what was coming.

Last time I was home I heard a story about a time my grandfather got a phone call from one of my father's friend's parents. I guess the guy's mom was upset that her son wasn't listening and she asked my grandfather to talk to him. When my dad's friend came over he was driving a car he had recently picked up after getting his license. My grandfather was checking it out and said,

"I notice your tires are a little bald. I got a better looking set sitting somewhere in the garage. Pull those ones off and we can swap them out".

My dad and his friend jacked up the car, put stands under it and got all the tires off and my grandfather comes out of the garage and says,

"Your mother called me earlier today and said you're having a little trouble listening. Roll those tires into the garage. You can have them back when she says you can".

Different times and different ideas on what is acceptable punishment.

 

[muck4doo]

Interesting couple questions.

I know there's the common belief that the "baby" gets more attention. The guys on Duck Dynasty heck the hell out of their youngest brother because he's pampered all the time.

I'm not sure you can get a direct answer to it. From a siblings perspective I would guess most older kids do feel their younger siblings are given more attention but that's likely because they weren't old enough to remember how much attention they received as a younger child (provided we're talking about young kids.....say an 6 year old with a 1 year old sibling).

Definitely different in my families case. Myself and the youngest definitely got more attention. She because she's the baby. Me because my parents are both oldest children in their families, same goes with my grandparents on both sides, so relatives and my parents always told me i was something special. Siblings noticed it, and so did I. Have relatives doing that still with my oldest, but I broke the cycle. His mother is the middle child from a family with 3 kids. So hopefully this ends with him as far as that "special treatment" goes.

 

[muck4doo]

I think some of it is just changing of times as well as acquiring skill. The stories I hear from my father about what his dad would do to him when he acted up are almost hilarious because they seem so out of the norm now. In the military with 8 kids, my grandfather wasn't known to have sit down talks for misbehavior. If you screwed up, you knew what was coming.

Last time I was home I heard a story about a time my grandfather got a phone call from one of my father's friend's parents. I guess the guy's mom was upset that her son wasn't listening and she asked my grandfather to talk to him. When my dad's friend came over he was driving a car he had recently picked up after getting his license. My grandfather was checking it out and said,

"I notice your tires are a little bald. I got a better looking set sitting somewhere in the garage. Pull those ones off and we can swap them out".

My dad and his friend jacked up the car, put stands under it and got all the tires off and my grandfather comes out of the garage and says,



Different times and different ideas on what is acceptable punishment.

LOL! :laugh1:

 

[WV Cowboy]

Fair discipline is a wonderful thing.

I received a ton of it, because I was very ornary and mischievous, but thankful for every bit of it.

 

[ethiostar]

Done!

 

[Joshmil53]

Thanks for the responses guys.