Katelyn Brooke

family dynamics

family· favorites· flashback photos

8 Feb

I’ve always thoughts families and birth order and siblings were fascinating.  One kid, two kids, three kids… ten kids?  Oldest, youngest… only?  Just always thought where you fell in your family and how it shaped you was interesting.  I’m one of three, the oldest, and I have two younger brothers.  We are all three years apart.

When I was little I wanted a sister SO BADLY.  I thought my life would be like Little Women or something.    Clearly a sister would never walk into my room and swipe the roof off of my dollhouse!  And while I still think it would be fun to have a sister, being the oldest of brothers is a part of who I am.  I’m bossy, an overachiever, and a worrier.    Plus, there are definitely some perks to being the oldest and only girl:

  • I am not easily grossed out.  You can discuss any bodily function (well, not the blood or violent kind) with me at any time, including meals, and I won’t flinch.  I’ll probably even join in.
  • I always had my own room growing up.  I learned to lock the door at age 4 (see above, with the dollhouse).
  • When we were little, I was the trend setter.  It didn’t last long, but the things I liked, such as the pink sippy cup and the bowl with the heart at the bottom, were in high demand BECAUSE I MADE THEM COOL.  This is probably the only time in my life that I’ve experienced this power, and I squandered it by being annoyed that my brother wanted those things because, clearly, those things were meant for girls.
  • I herd by nature, which makes me a really good field trip chaperone.
  • I always get to sing the girl part during our Disney duets (of which there have been many.)
  • I get scared watching other people ride bikes, and I’m quick to pull others back from railings at heights higher than 3 feet off the ground.  My brothers will tell you that this trait is always bad, but hopefully someday it will make me a highly attentive parent?
  • I usually got to avoid taking out the trash, one of my least favorite chores.
I wouldn’t trade my brothers for anything.  They are the only ones who get all of my obscure references to things we watched as kids.  They are the only ones who will join me in singing the Pokemon theme song in it’s entirety.  And who would sit there and giggle with me as I Photoshop our faces on to Mini Me?  I guess what I’m trying to say is, not only would I keep my birth order and being the only girl and all that, but I wouldn’t trade these brothers for anything.  In good times and bad times, they are part of me.
So friends, I want to know: how many brothers and sisters do you have?  Zero?  Ten?  Are you the oldest, youngest, or a middle?  SPILL!  And if you’ve never said hi before, now is the time.  I want to hear from you!
(All the photos are from my family’s snapshot collection, EXCEPT for the wedding photo which is by JMK Photos)

16 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jillian Nicole says

    February 8, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    Oh, you looked so pretty in your wedding dress! How fun to have 2 brothers–I'm an only child and always wished to have siblings–seems like so much fun!:)

    Reply
  2. deertale says

    February 8, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    ahhh second of 3 sisters! All these things pretty much applied to girls too :) I especially love the part about getting to sing the girl part in the Disney songs, soo jealous! I was always the boy part :)Its so funny how everyone is shaped by birth order. My oldest sister is definitely over achiever type A(in the best way possible), I'm the attention loving middle child who always had a mind of her own, and the youngest was the wild child who got away with everything. Pretty typical :) Love this post!

    Reply
    • Katie Price says

      February 8, 2012 at 7:56 pm

      Have you ever seen that 'birth-order' book? I was thumbing through it on the clearance rack at B & N, and it's not as crazy as it sounds! I definitely think there are certain things that come because of your birth order.

      Reply
  3. jessica {creative index} says

    February 8, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    i have one younger sister… we're almost 4 years apart, so we're not very close. it's a little better now that we're getting older, but i always wanted more siblings, especially a brother! that's why i want a big family!!

    Reply
  4. Dilan Dilir says

    February 8, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    the photos are awsome :D

    Reply
  5. Alysa says

    February 8, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    I'm the first born also and have one little brother who's 2 years younger than I am. My best friend (of 20 years) is practically a sister too. Here's a picture of my brother and 'sister' (10th & 13th photo from the top) from my wedding. We're definitely goof offs when we get together, and will forever be coming up with new nic names for each other and pulling off fantastic pranks. http://passagehillstudio.com/2011/10/diy-fall-wedding-3rd-anniversary/

    Reply
  6. BeckyJo606 says

    February 8, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    I'm a first born and it totally holds true for our family! However, my little sister has somewhat changed out of her birth order as the youngest, except that she is still very much the baby!

    Reply
  7. Bethany says

    February 9, 2012 at 12:15 am

    I'm the oldest of three too, and I definitely know what you mean about 'herding' haha. I love being the oldest because I feel like I got to help raise my sisters :) Nothing like family!

    Reply
  8. akiko says

    February 9, 2012 at 3:02 am

    I really enjoyed reading your post and the photos are so adorable!! Great post! xo akiko
    Style Imported

    Reply
  9. flutterhappy says

    February 9, 2012 at 8:36 am

    I'm only child and had been wishing to have younger siblings w/c I know would not happen. ;) You had me smiling there with “I herd by nature”. ;)

    Reply
  10. Sarah Morgan says

    February 9, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Oh I love this! Sibling dynamics are so interesting. I'm one of five. I'm kind of the oldest…I have three older half siblings who are very much a big part of my family, but they stayed in England when we moved over 14 years ago. So, I've been the functioning “oldest” child when it's just me and my little sister.

    Love your family pictures!

    Reply
  11. Halina says

    February 9, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    I really regret that I don't have any siblings! It was always just me, but I didn't mind that either because I had to learn to be creative with my time. But I have a somewhat closer relationship to most of my cousins, although we live in different parts of the world now.

    Reply
  12. Bri Buzali says

    February 9, 2012 at 11:29 pm

    awwww I love this post! I'm the only girl surrounded by three boys but I absolutely love it! It's definitely given me a special place in my dad's life. aren't families the best?

    Reply
  13. Ashley says

    February 10, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    We are so much alike! I have two younger brothers and have always played a motherly role, yet can talk about the grossest things my brothers can think up! It's definitely a birth order thing and definitely has a lot to do with the fact that we are the oldest and only girl!

    Reply
  14. Janelle says

    February 16, 2012 at 3:19 pm

    Hi, It's me again. I don't know how, but I seem to have missed your posts in the craziness that is my blog reader. I'm the oldest, then my sister is 20 and my brother is 16 (almost). I LOVE being the oldest too and I think I'm also the bossy one, overachiever and worrier. Haha. I always thought that I really lucked out because I got to have a brother and a sister. Oh, and my whole family talks about “gross” things all the time, no topic is untouchable. Hahaha.

    Reply

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  1. Starred this Week says:
    June 7, 2013 at 10:16 am

    […] be doing the whole graduation party and actual ceremony thing.  I can’t believe my baby brother is graduating from high school!  I feel ancient.  What are you up to this weekend, […]

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