As an Orthodontist, I interact with both my patients and their parents.
It is interesting when my patient has a higher birth order than their parent. This is especially true when I am treating an Only child.
In the chair, I have a little adult that will report to the parent everything that is said and done. If they want to control the narrative, they can, as the parent with a lower birth order will believe everything this child tells them.
The child is in charge in this family.
Extremes in birth order difference can make for some very funny situations.
One of my staff members is a number four birth order and her friend is also a number four. (Usually your best friend is your same birth order)
These two ladies have several children, the oldest Firstborns are girls.
One day when they couldn’t decide where to go for lunch a thought came to them: Let us take the girls out of school, they will know where we should go to lunch.
The fourth born is used to people taking care of them.
They checked the girls out of school and all went to lunch, the Firstborn girls made the decision.
If you are aware, birth order affects everything you do in life. If you work with it, life becomes more enjoyable and predictable.
I am Dr. Robert Hurst author of Life’s Fingerprint: How Birth Order Affects Your Path Throughout Life. I have been an Orthodontist for over 50 years and have been observing my patients from childhood to adulthood and beyond. My patients call me Dr. Bob.