Does Birth Order Determine Success?

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Since I have five children, I did a little research on this subject. The conclusion of ONE study by Thomas Connellan, said, in a book that he wrote, that” firstborn and only (child) children are more likely to succeed in school and work than others.” What do you think? What is your birth order? Are you a firstborn child, a middle child, or the youngest child in your family? Or are you an ONLY child? Do you think it makes a difference? Part of this study also included some other interesting facts. Half of all U.S. Presidents were firstborn. Two-thirds of successful entrepreneurs are firstborn. Two-thirds of the people listed in “Who’s Who” are firstborn. Twenty-one of the first 23 astronauts were firstborn. Of the female world leaders between 1960 and 1999, 45% were firstborn. The best observation in this report was: “Parents expect firstborns and onlies to act more mature than their age and hold them more accountable for what they do. It’s the old “You should know better than that” syndrome. Guess what? Kids will live up to their parents’ expectations.” I’m still puzzled by this report, as I consider my own children, who are all successful in their own chosen field. But, my husband and I did spend time with our children, teaching them how to live as adults. This is the IMPORTANT factor in raising children, in my opinion. Teach them what they need to know to be a successful adult and to live in an adult world, where everything isn’t handed to them on a platter. Teach them good work ethics and responsibility for their own decisions and actions. Whether you are a firstborn or a tenth born child, like my father was, you can be successful, like he was.