Episode 29: Only Child vs. Sibling Squad
Welcome to The Mirror Project!
Welcome back to *The Mirror Project*! This week, we’re diving into the fascinating world of childhood dynamics with your hosts, Christine and Alexandra. Whether you grew up as an only child or with a house full of siblings, these early experiences play a crucial role in shaping who we are today. Join us as we explore the differences between these upbringings, from parental focus and household dynamics to the social skills and life lessons we carry into adulthood.
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Early Childhood Experiences
We kick things off by discussing the profound impact of early childhood experiences on our development. In this segment, we explore how the presence or absence of siblings affects the amount of parental attention we receive. Do only children experience a closer bond with their parents, or do siblings have a unique advantage? We also delve into how these dynamics shape our home environment, sharing favorite memories and funny stories that highlight the contrasts between growing up alone or with siblings. Finally, we reflect on the balance between independence and loneliness, pondering whether only children felt more alone or if those with siblings ever longed for solitude.
Social Development and Friendships
Next, we explore the influence of childhood dynamics on our social development. How do social skills differ between only children and those with siblings? We discuss whether siblings serve as built-in playmates, and how this dynamic influences friendships and social circles later in life. Was there ever a time when friends were seen as sibling substitutes, or did the absence of siblings foster a different approach to friendship? We also share memorable stories of childhood friendships that had a lasting impact on us and how these experiences shaped our adult social interactions.
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Family Dynamics and Life Lessons
In our final segment, we tackle the ways in which family dynamics influence responsibilities, conflict resolution, and life lessons. We compare how chores and responsibilities are distributed in households with multiple children versus only children, and share stories of family conflicts and how they were resolved. Remember Christine’s story from our “Our Mums” episode? We recall how her sisters always got ahead in the sibling rivalry! We also delve into the unique values and life lessons we learned from our childhoods—whether as an only child or as part of a sibling group—and how these lessons continue to shape our values and outlook on life today.
Closing Thoughts
And that’s a wrap on this nostalgic trip down memory lane! Whether your childhood was filled with the quiet solitude of being an only child or the lively chaos of having siblings, we hope you found this episode both enlightening and heartwarming. Join us next week for part two of this conversation, where Christine’s sisters will join us to share their perspectives and stories. It’s going to be a fun and insightful continuation that you won’t want to miss!
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Join Us Next Time
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Hello, and welcome to the Mirror Project.
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:We are your hosts, Christine,
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:Alexander: And Alexandra.
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:Christine: and we are so
glad you're joining us.
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:We have a fun episode for you today
where we'll dive deep into the world
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:of growing up with or without siblings.
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:Whether you were the only child or
part of a big family, we're exploring
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:how those early childhood experiences
help shape who we are today.
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:Let's get started.
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:Alexandra: Before we delve into today's
riveting topic, make sure to hit that
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:like subscribe or follow button on
your favorite listening platform.
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:Take a moment to do it now
before it slips your mind.
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:Trust us.
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:We're not getting started without you.
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:Let's make this journey together.
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:Christine: Okay.
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:First and foremost, I just want to.
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:I have a little bit of
a voice issue today.
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:So, so sorry.
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:I sound like I'm dying a little
bit, but I promise I'm feeling okay.
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:My voice is just tired.
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:Alexander: I feel like this shows
her dedication to this show, and
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:putting it out that we'll do it
even if her voices sound hoarse
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:and, like they've been overused.
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:Well, to give a little context, I
just got back from a family trip.
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:I was abroad over in Ireland
and we ended our trip at a game.
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:We actually went to an American
football game in Ireland and I got back.
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:excited and really used my
voice while we were there.
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:So, feeling the ramifications,
but I am very excited to be
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:having our conversation today.
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:We're going to first dive in
and talk a little bit about
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:early childhood experiences.
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:And my first question for you, Alexandra
we're going to maybe focus a little bit
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:first on the differences and the amount of
attention we got from our parents being an
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:only child and me having two sisters, how
did the absence of having siblings affect
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:your relationship with your parents?
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:Alexander: that's a good question.
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:So as an only child, I was only
one around short of having,
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:I think a pet, uh, beta fish.
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:And at one point I had a.
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:A dog, but we ended up finding him
a new home because at the time I was
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:competing so much in Taekwondo that
we weren't home enough to really take
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:care and spend enough time with dog.
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:so it was kind of I didn't know
anything else as an only child.
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:I didn't know anything else, but
I feel like hopefully I'm not
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:the stereotypical spoiled child.
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:I spent a lot of time With my parents,
in the sense of, they really treated me
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:like a miniature adult, in many ways.
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:So, that attention was good, in
the sense of, they talked to me.
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:Really talked to me.
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:I did miss having children, and siblings
my age to kind of, I don't know, have
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:somebody else to play with in some
sense, but I was also very much an
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:introvert and was okay being on my own.
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:So I think I was all right.
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:Was, I do, I felt like I
had a lot of attention.
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:I would say that I probably
spent more time With my mom.
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:And then when I was a child, I definitely
spent more time with my dad than I did
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:when I was like preteen, early teenager
I developed more of a relationship
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:with my dad in high school after he
finished his MBA program, just because
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:he wasn't around as much for a little
while, my dad was the baby of his family.
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:He was the oldest of his siblings.
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:And I think my mom, when she was on
Our podcast shared how she was kind of
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:afraid to hold me when I first came out,
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:and so she never really did the
whole baby talk thing with me.
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:Neither of my parents did.
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:So they kind of just set me up on the
counter and would talk to me while
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:they were preparing meals or whatever.
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:So, yeah.
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:Whatever.
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:So that was, I would say is
the sole focus, but in many
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:ways it wasn't too much.
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:Like they each had what their
jobs and everything else.
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:So it felt nice.
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:So Christine, what about you?
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:What was it like to share the attention
of your parents with two siblings?
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:Christine: Well, so my one sister and
I were two and a half years apart, so
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:I don't really necessarily remember.
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:Much before I had siblings and then my
other sister is six years younger than me.
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:So, I, as the oldest, I feel have a,
an interesting sort of perspective
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:on, Being a sibling, just because
I don't ever really remember.
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:And obviously neither do they remember
a time when the other wasn't there.
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:But Yeah, you know, naturally
we outnumbered our parents.
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:Once Tori, my youngest sister came along.
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:So, attention and my dad, for a lot
of my childhood, my dad worked, my mom
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:was a stay at home mom until I was I
want to say like in third or fourth
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:grade, my my mom went to back to work.
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:So, but she worked in the school
that my sisters and I attended.
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:So she was working, but it was like, my
mom just came to my school every day.
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:So kind of actually was a perfect sort
of situation for her for me in terms
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:of having her working a full time.
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:But yeah, I mean, attention was drawn,
whenever there was something going on
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:with either me or one of my siblings
but you just sort of like, I don't know,
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:I'm sure I'm trying to remember how I
felt about it all I personally don't
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:remember feeling too negative about it.
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:I'm sure, at times I got jealous and I'm
like why isn't mom paying attention to me?
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:Or, and, Tori, she was, when she
came along, I was like mom's helper.
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:So she was A little more than just my,
like the relationship I have had with
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:Nicole when we were kids versus how my
relationship was with Tori when she was
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:little is a little different just because
of that age gap there, Nicole and I and I
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:look forward to having these conversations
with them on here, but Nicole and I
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:love to get into it with each other.
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:And when we were kids, Oh boy.
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:But you know, when my parents attention
was drawn elsewhere, I had, I did have
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:another sibling that I could distract
myself with, or I just hung back and
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:did my own thing as we got older.
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:That age difference.
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:Between me and my youngest sister
separated us more and Nicole and
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:Tori were only four years apart.
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:So I feel like they solidified a bit of
a, just like a different relationship.
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:When we were kids, because they
were closer in age than I was.
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:And by the time I was preteen early
into my teenage years, I was it
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:was hard for me to relate to them.
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:Because they were younger in my mind, but
Yeah, I mean, I just always accepted it
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:Oh, yep, mom and dad are distracted with
Tori because of this, or Nicole because
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:of that, or And then I just was assumed I
we all helped each other out when needed.
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:So like when mom needed help with
something, Nicole and I would have, would
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:pitch in so yeah, that's, thinking back
on all of that, nothing too negative,
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:of course, there's always like the
little sibling rivalry ifs that come
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:up, but again, I don't remember a time.
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:Um,
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:Alexander: You had a easier relationship
with one of your siblings due to
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:the difference in birth order or
how many years apart you were?
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:Christine: I don't I would say, you
know, Nicole and I, we really didn't
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:hit our stride and come to sort of an
understanding of things once we were
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:both in high school because Nicole
and I are so close in age and we
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:tend to have opposite personalities.
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:We really butted heads
when we were younger.
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:We're both super stubborn.
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:And,
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:Alexander: No.
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:Christine: yeah, I know, hard to
believe and so, me being older, I'm
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:like, well, I'm right because I'm older
or whatever and it'd be fun to hear
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:what Nicole has to say on the matter.
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:But with Tori, she just for
a long time, I would, I was
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:like, oh, she's my baby sister.
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:I take care of her.
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:I look out for her.
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:So,
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:I would say we're definitely the
closest we've ever been now in our adult
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:years, but you know, just trying to
put to words how our relationships were
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:growing up is a little more difficult.
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:When it comes to Tori, for a long time,
I was like, but she's my baby sister.
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:But now, no she's 23 years old and living
her adult, starting her adult life.
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:So yeah.
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:Alexander: that being the baby
ever really leaves because my dad
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:was the baby of six siblings and
he would milk that for all it was
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:worth around the siblings.
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:Christine: I love you so much, Tor,
if you're listening to this, but
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:you But she's totally still does.
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:And she gets all of us.
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:It's not just your parents.
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:She gets Nicole and I both.
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:yeah,
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:Alexander: I think I wish I'd had more
of as a child, but I have found sisters.
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:I mean, Christine, I count
you among one of those.
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:And Simmy, who I believe I've
talked about on the show before
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:have definitely filled some of that.
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:void that was missing as a child.
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:Christine: sure.
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:Alexander: but then again, I think
I also like my stuff as it is.
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:And while I'm happy to share and let
people use part of me, it's also like my
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:stuff, just keep it nice and organized.
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:Cause if you haven't noticed everyone
who's listening, I'm a little anal
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:retentive and Yeah, that definitely
carries out to my space that you
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:wouldn't be able to tell it right now.
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:Christine: Yeah, no, I, yeah, as as
someone with siblings, someone's always
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:in your stuff, touching, moving, using.
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:So you just kind of have to roll with it.
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:Alexander: I'm not even okay
when I touch and move my things.
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:Christine: Oh, yeah.
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:It's God, why did I do that in the past?
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:Come on, Alexandra.
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:Alexander: Who was I?
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:Put that there.
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:When I was little, I, for some reason,
had an obsession with like purses
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:and wallets when I was younger.
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:Christine: hmm.
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:Alexander: Sockaway 20s.
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:That was really cool.
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:I think one time I went through
all the wallets just to, I
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:don't know why I had so many.
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:I ended up having 200.
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:I was like, Ooh, wow.
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:Okay.
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:Past self.
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:Yeah.
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:What were you hiding, my dear?
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:Christine: I'm saving it for a rainy day.
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:Cool.
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:what was your favorite part of
your childhood home environment,
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:Alexander: I think I really
liked cooking with my mom.
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:I said, she didn't really do the
whole baby talk thing with me.
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:And she was like, I don't know
what to do with the kids sometimes.
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:So she would stick me on the
counter and then she would talk
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:to me about what she was doing.
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:And so I really loved that because I
also got to learn about her grandmother
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:from Cooking with my mom and how her
gram taught her how to cook and bake.
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:And so it was a really nice way to
kind of pass and pass down those
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:memories and share that with her.
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:Although it kind of drives
her crazy because she is very
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:much, the first time you have a
recipe, you follow it to the tee.
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:And I'm like, I don't
really like that ingredient.
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:Let me swap it.
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:So that's more like I am cooked and
baked and it kind of drives her a little
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:crazy when I'm like, I don't know,
this video on Instagram said this.
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:And so we just, we're
just going to go with it.
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:And she's but the ratio is the
amount and I'm like, eh which is
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:kind of funny because if you know me,
Christine, I was, I'm sure is that's
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:not her in any other part of life.
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:Christine: True.
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:Alexander: with my dad, I really enjoyed
doing and making things with my dad.
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:He.
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:It was very handy and did a lot of
things projects around the house.
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:So I loved getting to do that with him.
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:So that was my favorite
part of growing up.
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:And I think I've talked about it once
before, but making your family wherever
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:you are and choosing your family.
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:I think that was my favorite part of
not having siblings of not growing up
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:close to either of my parents families.
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:Really kind of choosing the people
you want to be in your family and
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:developing those relationships because.
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:There's something that
really bonds you to them.
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:So Christine, it on you.
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:So,
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:Alexander: was your child like?
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:Environment like?
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:Christine: well, it was never dull.
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:There is always something
going on which is only natural.
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:The house is always buzzing.
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:If you're ever in a room with me
and my sisters and we get going.
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:Look out.
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:It's going to be very loud,
entertaining but ultimately a fun time.
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:So I I always love looking
back on whenever we did
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:stuff together as a family.
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:I think I talked about this once
before, we always had dinner together
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:Alexander: Mm hmm.
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:Christine: can sort of call each
other up on the day and my parents
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:also, both my parents love to cook
and fostered a love of cooking.
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:So all of us really enjoy, spending
time together in the kitchen,
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:making a meal for each other.
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:My mom.
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:She was involved with my Girl Scout troop.
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:She was my troop leader for the
first couple of years before
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:she had to go back to work.
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:So that was something her and I
really enjoyed and one on one.
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:And she always was very supportive
of my Love and passion for dance and,
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:would drive me to every practice every
title that's both my parents and my
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:siblings did support in that way.
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:And then with my dad, he found through
the YMCA, this father, daughter.
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:group that's now called Adventure Guides.
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:And we always would love going
on the camp outs with him.
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:So we'd go camping and by camping,
that was always in a cabin, not in
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:a, not true camp, but you know, as a
kid, you're like, Oh, this is camping.
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:We're out in the woods.
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:But we have plumbing and warm
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:Alexander: only way to camp.
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:Christine: Exactly.
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:So that was always fun.
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:That was always something my
sisters and I, Nicole and I got
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:to experience that together.
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:I got a little too old for it.
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:And so dad might've done it with
both Tori and Nicole, but then Tori,
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:it was just a Tori and dad thing.
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:Cause once I got into middle school,
high school, they phased it was more
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:focused on young, younger daughters.
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:Father, daughter, Outings.
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:So yeah those are the sort of,
that's what I look back on.
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:But yeah, the home
environment, it was never dull.
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:I'm sure my mother, would love she
would always send us down to the
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:basement when she needed a break.
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:Cause that was our playroom.
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:That's where we would play dress
up, play with our Barbie dolls, play
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:with Lincoln logs or other games.
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:Alexander: Just kind of see.
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:Stick me outside.
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:It was like, okay, go play
with the neighborhood kids.
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:Christine: Yeah.
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:I mean, naturally, I think
that's one thing my mom, I think,
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:really found grateful is that we
always had somebody to play with.
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:So yeah, but that's, all good memories,
all fun times looking back on it.
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:But oh, here's a good question.
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:Did you ever feel lonely as a child?
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:Alexander: Yes.
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:I think, and I say this because as much
as I think I wanted a sibling by the time
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:I was like, Ooh, I really want a sibling.
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:I was also a wee bit set in
my ways as an only child.
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:And there was one time that a family
friends of ours, their son was
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:hanging out with me and a girl who.
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:Was close enough to also be
a found sister at the time.
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:And that was my experience with a
younger boy in the sense of, I was like,
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:uh, he's in everything he's touching.
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:And I said to my mom, I was like, I
don't think I want siblings anymore.
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:I'm so sorry for asking.
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:But no I really,
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:Christine: I rescind that
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:Alexander: I was like, just kidding.
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:Maybe it's not for me to be fair.
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:We.
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:Where we lived when I was really young,
there weren't a lot of other children
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:in the neighborhood, and then we moved,
gosh, I want to say when I was like,
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:kindergarten, first grade era time
frame, and there was like a handful of
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:children in the neighborhood subdivision,
the big neighborhood and there was
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:like a, like one or two children on
our cul de sac, and I think I did get
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:lonely, but at the same time, I didn't
I don't really relate to my peers.
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:I always felt a little out of step with
them, mostly because I learned to talk to
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:adults when I was first learning to talk.
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:So I felt more comfortable with
kids who are older than me or
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:adults and talking to them.
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:And it was when it was children my
age or younger, I was like, I don't.
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:Know what to do with you guys.
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:So as long as I would get I really
love to use my imagination and play and
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:build things with tinker toys, as you
mentioned, and Lincoln logs and create
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:whole worlds for my Barbies and whatnot.
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:But I did a lot of sports
as well for quite a while.
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:I was in tennis and then went
from tennis to Taekwondo.
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:So I had a lot of interaction with kids
my age when I started doing those things.
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:Christine: sure.
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:Alexander: So I think at some point
when I was around that, I'm very much
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:more introverted than I was extroverted.
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:And I don't know if having siblings
makes you extroverted, but there's a
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:little bit more boisterousness and,
you kind of talk back with yourself
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:in a way that I wasn't used to.
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:So I'd come home from things and
I'd be like, I just need my space.
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:I need my quiet.
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:Christine: Yeah, sure.
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:Alexander: so that was that.
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:So that was my experience.
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:What about Chris, you, Christine, did you
ever end up craving alone time, growing
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:up with two sister, younger sisters?
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:Christine: yeah.
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:I'm sure.
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:Absolutely.
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:Definitely.
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:There is always something
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:Alexander: that made you go?
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:Definitely.
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:Christine: no.
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:I'm sure they would say the same.
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:But for a while there, Nicole
and I actually shared a room,
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:so we had a shared space.
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:And I Looking back on it and it'd
be fun to, to ask my sister is this
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:question, Tori has always loved her
room and like loves to spend time
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:in her room and Nicole, same thing
loves to spend time in a room where
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:I really only spend time in my room.
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:Like.
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:When I'm in my bed.
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:And otherwise I'm down in the common
space and the family room area.
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:My room is a sanctuary, but it
wasn't necessarily where I hung out
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:and spent a lot of my free time.
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:Whereas conversely, my
sisters were different.
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:They, and especially Tori always
loved spending time in her room.
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:so I always love surrounding
myself with activity.
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:When I needed my own space.
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:I've, went and I found it.
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:But yeah it, there was never,
it was hard to be lonely in a
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:busy house with lots going on.
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:And I would be interested to ask both
my sisters this question, if they, one,
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:have ever felt lonely or if they craved
some quiet time and alone time away
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:from the busy bustle, hustle and bustle.
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:Alexander: is there any time that
you, don't like crave alone time, but
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:you actually crave spending more time
with your siblings or your parents.
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:And is there something that would
drive that need to spend a little bit
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:more intense time with your family?
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:Christine: I think, I really crave that
time when it's the end of the day and.
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:I've had time to decompress from the
hecticness, but I'm just looking to
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:talk to somebody to talk about my
day or talk about what I've been up
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:to or hear what they've been up to.
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:So that's when I really crave
that time with myself, with
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:my siblings, with my parents.
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:And, most often I call my mom to
just Chat with her and see how
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:her day was or or I'll even, I
live pretty close to my parents.
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:So if needed, I'll say, Hey mom, I'm
going to come home for the weekend.
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:Hope that's cool.
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:Alexander: I'm just gonna,
even if it's not, I'm coming.
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:Christine: yeah.
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:And, Both my sisters now, they live
in other cities so we don't get to
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:chat with each other as much, but
when I'm able to catch them when they
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:have a free moment, it's always really
special to just catch up and I become
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:the listener and I just want to hear
what's been going on in their lives.
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:And because that's what I crave the
most was the, is that time when we
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:would all be together around the table
chatting about what was happening.
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:During the that day for each of us,
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:Craving more of our company?
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:Join the fun over on Instagram, TikTok,
and YouTube at Mirror Project Pod.
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:Dive deeper into our world and
engage with us on a whole new level.
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:Don't miss out on the excitement.
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:Alexander: okay.
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:So now that we've covered some of that
early childhood and what it was, just
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:some of the general differences or in
some sense similarities, because I think
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:we've both talked about how we've had.
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:We had dinner with our parents each night.
394
:That is family dinner.
395
:Definitely on our mom's episode
where our moms were guests.
396
:So let's roll into how siblings or
the lack thereof impacted social
397
:development and our friendships.
398
:Christine, how would you say your
social skills developed having siblings
399
:from such a young age where you didn't
remember a time not having siblings?
400
:Christine: Well there, they were great.
401
:Interesting.
402
:I've never really thought
about this before.
403
:I guess they were, they
were built in practice.
404
:Not dummies, but like they,
they were just, they helped,
405
:they built in the practice.
406
:And I think we can say that for
each of us because, you know,
407
:it helped me deal with conflict.
408
:It helped me deal.
409
:Conflict resolution, definitely, as I got
older and I really started to understand
410
:the significance of where I ranked in
the order of siblings, as the oldest
411
:versus the youngest It definitely sort
of informed how I would approach social
412
:situations and I think, I tend to as
I've gotten older, I won't say I was
413
:always this socially aware, but I sort
of try my best to take myself out of
414
:situations when I, Can, and when I'm not
too emotionally invested to see all sides,
415
:I feel like it'd be interesting to talk
to other older siblings in that regard.
416
:But I feel like if you're not the one
directly involved in a conflict, you
417
:tend to try and be the mediator and try
and make help situations, maybe even
418
:fix situations if you think you can.
419
:And let me think Having that social,
socialization from the moment their their
420
:siblings are born, and like I said, I
don't remember a time without them really
421
:they helped inform any relationship I have
have had because I was with them 24 seven.
422
:I heard a really beautiful thing recently
where having siblings is such a unique
423
:relationship because this person compared
it to your parents leave you too soon
424
:because you usually show up in their
life when they're in the middle stage of
425
:their, of your life, your spouse has come
too late because they tend to show up at
426
:the middle stage of your life, but your
siblings are with you for the whole ride.
427
:So from the moment that they're
there, you always have them.
428
:So that's it.
429
:Uniquely special and beautiful
relationship because they're the person
430
:that has known you, whether where
you rank in the order of things for
431
:their entire life or your entire life.
432
:So it's just it's a really beautiful
thing to reflect on because they
433
:really truly informed how I have
had any significant relationship.
434
:Sorry, I, that was a really
drawn out answer, but,
435
:Alexander: That was great.
436
:Christine: but yeah.
437
:Alexander: cause I would say for
being an only child, it, I had
438
:mentioned this a little earlier.
439
:I think that my social skills as it came
to like my peers was a little stunted in
440
:the sense of I just didn't really get it.
441
:I was much more comfortable
talking to adults.
442
:Those who are much older than me.
443
:I was like, okay, I know what
to do in these situations I've
444
:been around adults my whole life.
445
:It was easier.
446
:I thought adults were easier to talk to.
447
:And I think there was just some
part of people my own age that
448
:I was like, I don't get this.
449
:And I think I deferred way
too much to other people.
450
:And I knew very young of the
stereotype of a spoiled only child.
451
:And I never wanted to be that.
452
:So I think
453
:I spent too much time trying
to make other people happy.
454
:And I never, I was never great with
some of the conflict resolution
455
:for, with peers, my own age.
456
:Adults?
457
:Sure.
458
:kids, teenagers who are older than me?
459
:Sure.
460
:My own age, I was like, I don't know
how to do this, so I felt like I
461
:kept learning those lessons and going
through things that were to practice
462
:those conflict resolution skills.
463
:Never really feeling
like I totally got it.
464
:So, yeah, I would say that
was a little different.
465
:I mean, I don't know what
to people my own age.
466
:I also really like to hide in myself.
467
:So as much as I would then give too
much of myself into a friendship
468
:or other people, I would then need,
so need more time to kind of just
469
:go hide and be introverted and go
spend time alone and in my room.
470
:So, but I had a couple of really
close friends who seemed also like
471
:old souls, and it just was, Easy
in the sense of we got each other,
472
:like they were more like the adults
that I knew how to communicate with.
473
:So
474
:that was, um, and my approach
to friendship making was more
475
:individual connections versus
a large group of friends.
476
:So like a small handful of close friends,
large group of acquaintances versus
477
:just having a huge group of friends.
478
:And because of the different I went
through primary not primary, I went
479
:through private school up through
eighth grade, and it was, they
480
:were really small private schools.
481
:And the taekwondo I would do at one
place and where I would do tennis was not
482
:anyone who was, at either of those places.
483
:So some of my friendship groups
were a little bit fragmented
484
:Christine: Sure.
485
:Yeah, I can relate to that too.
486
:Having been to private school
all of my life and then having
487
:dance or other group things.
488
:I also think having a sibling
so close in age helps,
489
:In terms of having relationships with
my peers and then having a sibling
490
:who was significantly younger.
491
:I mean, six years is quite, quite a long
time, especially when you start to mature.
492
:Yeah, you're 12 and she's six.
493
:So that's vastly different
points of development.
494
:So that sort of really helped me.
495
:relate to younger kids and be able to
496
:Really know how to act around
people who, are younger.
497
:Now that I'm an adult and not having
that, it's not as easy, but I feel
498
:like sometimes it comes more naturally.
499
:I mean, I was an Annie for a while.
500
:And like I, I was able to remember and
pick up on things of how things I learned
501
:when I was, when Tori was so, so young.
502
:So, and then having a surrogate
little brother in my cousin because
503
:he lived so close growing up and he,
504
:oh gosh, he is nine years
younger than I am, so again
505
:it all helped inform how I
handled relationships, but.
506
:Alexander: So you talked briefly about
your siblings being playmates and kind of
507
:training dummies for social situations.
508
:What else was special about the role
of siblings growing up that's different
509
:than your relationship with your parents
or even some of your best friends?
510
:Closest friends.
511
:Christine: Well, as I mentioned They're
the only people in your life who have
512
:been with you through everything.
513
:So, the bond of a sibling, and
I understand there's sibling
514
:relationships out there that are
strange, that people just You know,
515
:for one reason or another, don't have
a close bond with their siblings.
516
:And I'm sorry for those people who's
to deal with that situation, but I
517
:feel like I'm quite blessed because
the beautiful thing and something that
518
:was very important to both my parents
was that we had a strong bond with my
519
:sisters and I, so they're two of the
only people in the world that truly have
520
:seen me through every stage of my life.
521
:And I then.
522
:So Our bond is so much deeper than any
other sort of friendship or really or
523
:relationship that I've ever had, it's
kind of hard to quantify it sometimes,
524
:and I'll I'm very eager to hear what
they have to say, if they feel the same
525
:Alexander: Yeah, because I was
say, is there anything that you
526
:can pick out from your memories of.
527
:Because you are the oldest and I'm sure
that their experiences will be different
528
:being the middle and the youngest,
where you have really kind of stepped
529
:into that role of the eldest sibling.
530
:Christine: I mean, there was some,
there was a situation a few years
531
:back where I definitely felt like I
kind of became not only for my sister,
532
:siblings, but for my whole family, like
this rock, the person who, who just
533
:tried to stay strong for everybody.
534
:And I definitely feel like I have this,
not that I think it's right, but just
535
:ingrained in me like, well, I'm the
oldest, so it's my responsibility to
536
:be You know, there and available for
my siblings who need, who will need
537
:help or somebody that they can rely on.
538
:Whether that's I don't necessarily
think that was something that was an
539
:expectation ever set on me, but I feel
like that's just something I just took on.
540
:So in general, like any and I would say
over the last few years, I've come to
541
:realize, well, that's not necessarily.
542
:How I need to, the mentals or the thinking
I need to have around that because really
543
:like we're there to support each other.
544
:Like we're all adults now.
545
:And we can all lean on
each other when we need it.
546
:But definitely I found like in,
in my teenage high school years
547
:well, I'm the oldest, so I have
to be the rock for my sisters.
548
:And I think it honestly probably
hindered our relationship.
549
:Yep.
550
:In a lot of ways because I kept certain
things from them, honestly, like Tori
551
:being six years younger than me I
didn't think she needed to know all of
552
:the teenage BS I was dealing with, but
you know, Nicole being so much closer
553
:in age and honestly, when we were in
high school, we got so much closer.
554
:We drew, I mean, junior, my
senior year, I started driving us.
555
:to school every morning.
556
:Because I was in other
afterschool curriculars.
557
:I don't know if I always drove us
home, but every morning she and I so
558
:I was her study partner, I was her
we were each other's friend drama.
559
:We always listened to the other
person's drama that was going on and
560
:always bounce stuff off of each other.
561
:and then, yeah as I've gotten, as
we both become adults, I think we've
562
:all reached this stage of, we can
lean on each other and there isn't
563
:necessarily, at least to me, it'll
be interesting to hear what they say.
564
:I don't really necessarily notice
the age differences or the order,
565
:sibling order role anymore.
566
:I don't at least I don't think
it plays that much of a role,
567
:except when Tori can sometimes.
568
:Milk the sibling, the youngest sibling.
569
:Alexander: feel like that's the right
of the baby of the family, though.
570
:Christine: Sure.
571
:Alexander: Aside from what you had
mentioned about learning conflict,
572
:how to deal with it, and conflict
resolution with your siblings, do you
573
:feel that having siblings impacted at
all how you went about making friends,
574
:across the different groups that you
were involved in extracurriculars
575
:or as you move through life?
576
:Christine: I'm sure it probably played a,
some sort of role in that whole process.
577
:I don't think it was
like anything conscious.
578
:Because I've had, well,
579
:looking back on it, both my elementary
best friends and my high school best
580
:friend were both babies of their
families which I just I never really
581
:thought about it, but, yeah, my best
friend Shannon from high school,
582
:she's the youngest of and then in, in
elementary middle school, I was friends
583
:with twins and they were the youngest,
their family and they were with them.
584
:There's six siblings.
585
:So, yeah, I don't know what
that necessarily says about me
586
:when it comes to making friend
finding friendship with people.
587
:But I guess an interesting thing to note.
588
:Alexander: was going to say they
were both babies of their families.
589
:Did you feel like also an older
sibling in those friendships sometimes?
590
:Christine: Yeah, I think so.
591
:Definitely my friend from
high school, I would say that.
592
:Although sometimes, we
593
:Just saw each other as equals too.
594
:And then even like my best, one of
my best friends from college Tori
595
:she's the youngest in our family.
596
:So I don't know.
597
:I just, I guess I gravitate
towards the younger siblings in
598
:the, in that sense, it's kind of
interesting how that's worked out
599
:Alexander: is there a specific story
or memory of a childhood friendship
600
:that you hold particularly dear to you
601
:Is different than something you would like
a memory you would hold of your siblings?
602
:Christine: I guess, the memories
that I hold more dear from,
603
:they weren't really childhood.
604
:I would say like the friendships I
grew in high school were probably the
605
:deepest relationships aside from my
family that I feel like I ever formed
606
:because when I was in middle school,
elementary, Those were the kids I was
607
:with since we were six until we were 14.
608
:So I feel like your world is so
small when you're kids and then
609
:put yourself in an environment
where your bubble's even smaller
610
:you I don't know if I necessarily
would be friends that would have
611
:been friends with those people.
612
:If I was in a different situation,
like you find commonalities and
613
:make relationships with those
that are just in your environment.
614
:But high school, I feel was the
first time where my world opened up.
615
:I'm.
616
:With people I've never met before
for the first time in my entire life.
617
:So, and then you're, you're in
high school, you're between, you're
618
:anywhere from 14 to 18 years old.
619
:And those four years, I think I've
said are probably the most, you
620
:change in the shortest amount of time.
621
:So I looked to those
relationships as potential.
622
:being the most important and impactful,
I guess I would say, because it's such
623
:a pivotal time I found in my life.
624
:So yeah But, I don't know, a particular
story I guess, I don't know if I've
625
:ever really talked about, junior year
was a particularly difficult year.
626
:I think it is for a lot of high schoolers.
627
:So much happens in that year.
628
:But not only was like there the pressure,
the social pressure, or the pressures
629
:of school and college and grades, but
it also just happened to coincide with
630
:the people I thought were my friends
weren't actually my friends and were
631
:starting to treat me really shitty.
632
:And I think it was more so when we were
growing up and figuring out who we were.
633
:And my one friend, best friend really,
who really got me through that whole time
634
:is the one that I had mentioned, Shannon.
635
:I feel like Without her, I
don't really know how that whole
636
:sort of time would have gone.
637
:But how about you, Alexandra?
638
:Do you have a particular memory or story
that you think about from your childhood?
639
:When it comes to friendships
that's particularly, well,
640
:particularly important?
641
:Alexander: Well, I think some of
the best memories of my friendships
642
:are with my friend Geneva, well,
call Neva most of the time.
643
:I
644
:think she went through quite
a lot of nicknames as a kid.
645
:I think for a while, most of the kids in
our class called her Rafi cause she'd have
646
:a a zip up hoodie with a giraffe on it and
it got shortened from giraffe to raffi.
647
:So I don't know why we, that came out,
but she was one of the few people that I
648
:ever felt like I really clicked with and
I didn't have to, I feel like I ever had
649
:to be somebody different than who I was.
650
:And I felt something just so calming
about our friendship and that it
651
:was just so nice to just, I mean,
even sit and be silent with a friend
652
:that it didn't always have to be on.
653
:She is somebody I couldn't, Really talk
to and never have to hold back from.
654
:And that was a really fun.
655
:And then in high school, we both went
to the same high school and kind of
656
:developed different friend groups,
but it was really nice to still have
657
:our friendship, even though the wider
circle of our friends were different.
658
:to think I don't know if this is being
an only child, but I happen to be really
659
:good at letting go of relationships
that are not great when you move
660
:from one period of life to another.
661
:Christine: Good for you, that's not easy.
662
:Alexander: I may deal with it years
later in therapy, but in the moment
663
:I'm pretty good at cutting people
664
:off.
665
:there was, went through a group of friends
my freshman year and then that changed.
666
:And then then I really kind of
feel like I became a floater.
667
:Like I had friends who were
in The arts and theater.
668
:Then I had friends from some of my classes
and I had friends, in different areas.
669
:So say that's the one thing I wish I had
that I had siblings is that I feel like I
670
:would have had a couple of relationships
to really anchor me, in some ways.
671
:Cause then I felt like I just
floated between everything and
672
:that didn't feel like there was one
really want any one place for me.
673
:And then I was also up in my head.
674
:A lot like I overthought things
675
:as we've talked about before on
one of our previous episodes.
676
:So, but yeah, I'd say that was,
and that's still a friendship.
677
:I hold near and dear to my heart.
678
:And even though she's not far from
me, I think she's less than 5 hours.
679
:I don't see her a lot, but I love that.
680
:Our friendship is one that We may not
talk for months, but as soon as we text or
681
:call each other, it's no time has passed
and you can just pick up this beautiful
682
:friendship and right where it was.
683
:So she's one of the few people that
I feel so happy, like extraordinarily
684
:happy for when good things happen to her,
because not that I don't share people's
685
:joy, but just because she deserves it.
686
:And I love her.
687
:So Neva, if you're listening, I love you.
688
:You're one of my best friends and
definitely one of my first sisters.
689
:So
690
:Christine: Oh, beautiful.
691
:Geneva's great.
692
:I haven't really had a
chance to catch up with her.
693
:In a few years, but I just
love that you, you have each
694
:other still and she's so sweet.
695
:And I hope she's doing really well.
696
:So
697
:Alexander: yeah,
698
:Christine: Awesome
699
:Alexander: we for my 21st birthday,
we I went to my parents took us
700
:to Temecula, the three of us, and
701
:that was a lot of fun.
702
:Christine: That was an awesome trip.
703
:Definitely.
704
:Oh cool.
705
:Yay friends
706
:Alexander: And then of course I
could always talk about Simmi,
707
:but she was somebody I met in
college, much like Christine.
708
:So I'm sure we'll have to
do another episode like that
709
:Christine: Yeah, definitely.
710
:Found Siblings episode would be a lot
of fun because we've certainly found
711
:our fair share between the two of us.
712
:Awesome.
713
:Okay.
714
:Let's now talk about family
dynamics and life lessons that
715
:we've gotten over the years.
716
:So, Alexandra, me having siblings chores
household responsibilities were split up
717
:between me and my sisters, but you being
an only child, how did that all work since
718
:Alexander: Getting
719
:like flashbacks of like
chore charts and whatnot.
720
:Christine: Oh, I had that too.
721
:Alexander: I
722
:Christine: We can dive into that.
723
:Alexander: think there was just
always a general expectation
724
:of keeping my room clean.
725
:That was, ultimately my responsibility.
726
:I was pretty good at it and
putting away, all my things.
727
:And I think in high school I did
want to rebel a little bit and my
728
:clean clothes would sit on a bench.
729
:I just wouldn't put it away.
730
:And then my mom would be like, you
really have to put that away now.
731
:But I remember like chores as a kid, like
sometimes it was like taking the trash
732
:out of the kitchen trash and taking it
to the large rubbish bin in the garage.
733
:helping with dinner, I feel was
not really a chore, but something
734
:that was expected as a kid.
735
:Funny enough I just remember a chore
chart being tied to My Taekwondo group.
736
:I don't know why.
737
:I feel like the head of the school the
main instructor, I don't know if it was a
738
:push to help all the kids kind of get more
responsible, but we would, I feel like it
739
:was time to Taekwondo and you would have
to like, you get these special skills.
740
:Like stickers that we put
on every time we filled out.
741
:And if you feel like there was like,
if you reached a certain number
742
:of stars or chores that you had
done, like something would happen.
743
:Because I don't think my parents
would have done that for me.
744
:And it be kind of became
it wasn't so much chores.
745
:It was be an expectation.
746
:And then I've mentioned that both my
sister and I lived with my parents during
747
:the pandemic and after, and there was
this attempt, my mom tried to get us to
748
:be responsible for one meal a week, and
that worked for a while, but that didn't
749
:really work, and so, I was like, all
right, we're trying but I love to cook
750
:yeah, I just, I don't think I've actually,
Made a meal fully on my own for a while.
751
:Just kind of doing, working
full time at plus school, plus
752
:this, plus, my other business.
753
:Looking forward to finishing my
master's program and being able to
754
:have a bit more space to breathe.
755
:But,
756
:Christine: Sure.
757
:Alexander: as I remember.
758
:Trash was definitely mine.
759
:Feeding the fish was mine.
760
:Although I don't know that I was
always super great about that.
761
:Weirdly, that fish also liked my dad the
best and liked to watch TV with my dad.
762
:I remember the fish bowl being
in the living room and anytime my
763
:dad was watching TV, like the fish
would be facing him in the screen.
764
:But if it was off, like it would
be, it It was very strange.
765
:Christine: And just when
your dad was watching TV?
766
:Not like when you and your mom were?
767
:Alexander: No, just my dad.
768
:Christine: Wow, he had some
connection with those fish.
769
:Alexander: but yeah,
I feel like that's it.
770
:So, Christine, what were the
chores that you had compared
771
:to what your siblings had?
772
:Christine: So when Tori came into
the picture and when she reached
773
:her toddler stage I feel like
that was around the time where my
774
:parents implemented the chore chart.
775
:And I remember they used to be on
the wall in our kitchen and there
776
:was one for me and one for Nicole.
777
:I don't, maybe it was like a month.
778
:The calendar set up and then
there was a note section.
779
:And in that note section, both
of us had help mom with Victoria,
780
:because I love I, Hey, I love both
of my sisters, but Tori from a
781
:very young age, from very young
was always very hyper energetic.
782
:And understandably, Would tire my
parents out because not only did they
783
:have her, but they had all three of us.
784
:So.
785
:It was part of our responsibility,
which was to help mom out with
786
:Tori, whether that was playing
with her, getting her ready.
787
:I remember bathing her
whatever mom needed help with.
788
:There was also doing the
dishes, help setting the table.
789
:If you when we were young, my parents
always cooked, but there was clearing
790
:the table and doing the dishes.
791
:Um,
792
:Alexander: Clearing the table.
793
:Christine: yep, setting the table,
clearing the table, doing the dishes and
794
:that all had to be done before we could
go watch TV or play video games or go play
795
:down in the basement after dinner, because
that was like my parents debrief time,
796
:catch up time without the kids around.
797
:They'd stay at the dining room table.
798
:We take care of cleaning up the kitchen,
putting food away, cleaning the dishes.
799
:I think, taking out the trash
was definitely one of them.
800
:Keeping our rooms clean.
801
:As my mom has probably meant, I think my
mom mentioned when she was on the silly
802
:ways in which we would hide, try and
hide stuff, like she always found out.
803
:Mom, mom's always now.
804
:But yeah, those, that's how
805
:Alexander: I feel
806
:like I didn't hide things, I
would always tattle on myself.
807
:Christine: oh yeah, no,
when you have siblings.
808
:You can never come clean.
809
:They come clean for you.
810
:They're, I've mentioned this before.
811
:I could never like, they would always
tell when we'd always tell them
812
:each other when the other person did
something they wouldn't, shouldn't have.
813
:I think I mentioned this before.
814
:Most, the one that, the funny one that
comes to mind was like the silly little
815
:thing when we were on a family trip.
816
:Visiting my mom's parents down in
Florida we had gone we had spent
817
:the afternoon shopping and then
we were ending it having dinner.
818
:And in one of the stores I had
come across like this shell that I
819
:don't think was actually for sale.
820
:I think it was like a display thing.
821
:And in my head I was like,
Oh, well, it's really pretty.
822
:And I really like it.
823
:And I don't see a price tag.
824
:So I just took it.
825
:I don't know how old I was at the time.
826
:I don't think I was in middle school yet.
827
:I think I was still in elementary school.
828
:And when we were at dinner.
829
:I had gone to the bathroom with my
sisters and I showed it to them.
830
:And right when we got back to the
table, Nicole was like, mom, Christine
831
:took this shell and oh my God, I got
in so much trouble for it, Alexandra.
832
:They, my mother, God bless her.
833
:And I love her.
834
:And she taught me a very valuable
lesson, but we went back to the store.
835
:And I went to the shop owner and
I took, I was like, God, I'm like,
836
:secondhand embarrassment right now.
837
:I fast stopped to what happened.
838
:I gave back the shell and the store,
the shop owner was very sweet.
839
:I thought I was going to jail, Alexandra.
840
:I thought I was going to be locked up
and put behind bars for all of this.
841
:But.
842
:I learned a very valuable lesson,
but thanks a lot, Nicole, Jesus.
843
:And I think I remember, cause the
next day we were supposed to go
844
:to the beach and look for shells.
845
:And I think the, I think I had the
thought of Oh, well I'll just make I
846
:found this shell, this beautiful shell.
847
:Like I found it at the beach
848
:Alexander: So, not only did you,
you shoplift this tiny shelf,
849
:but then you were like, let
me develop this elaborate
850
:backstory.
851
:Christine: I knew I did something wrong.
852
:and I was trying to come up with a
way to fix it because now I'm stuck
853
:with this stupid show that I need to
account for and, where I went wrong
854
:was telling my sisters about it.
855
:I should have just kept my
mouth shut and anyway yeah.
856
:I just remember my mom
was very upset with me.
857
:Understandably.
858
:Taught me a very valuable lesson.
859
:And,
860
:Alexander: disappointment, though.
861
:Christine: Ooh, that cuts
deeper than any knife.
862
:I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.
863
:Ugh!
864
:Ugh!
865
:Ugh!
866
:Alexander: I feel like one of the
few times, like my parents were
867
:ever, my dad was ever truly upset
with me was when I wanted to quit Ta
868
:Quinto, and I was like a brown belt.
869
:It was almost to a black belt.
870
:He was like, you'll not quit now.
871
:You are going to finish this.
872
:You've started, so you'll come.
873
:Okay.
874
:All righty then.
875
:So, cause I couldn't
bear the disappointment.
876
:I was like, all right, fine.
877
:Christine: Exactly, Prendle no.
878
:Ugh, ugh, it's the worst.
879
:But, yeah.
880
:How about you, Alexandra?
881
:Do you have any funny stories
about conflict when you were a kid?
882
:How did it get
883
:Alexander: Oh, okay.
884
:With friends.
885
:I don't know.
886
:I feel like when I was really
young, like under high school,
887
:it wasn't a whole lot of conflict
with my friends, which was good.
888
:I ended up we talked about this
being very empathic and taking
889
:people's pain and emotion.
890
:So I had more of an issue with bottling.
891
:Other people's crap up in myself.
892
:And I just needed to like,
I would generally implode.
893
:So there'd be times where I'd get really
moody and emotional and then just like my
894
:top would blow and I'm like, all right,
let me let out months and years of stuff.
895
:But there was a time, so not I have a
very close relationship with my mother.
896
:We talk a lot.
897
:So I find that.
898
:in some ways,
899
:not really a sibling,
but more like a friend.
900
:So that made the transition around
high school to college very weird.
901
:I know we talked about that on
the moms episode of she's still
902
:my mom, but like we're adults now.
903
:But
904
:even as a kid, like we would talk a lot
about deep philosophical conversations.
905
:So in that sense, she was like
my best friend in that manner.
906
:And I grew up watching Gilmore girls.
907
:So I don't know.
908
:I feel like in many ways, like that
was a, being friends with your mom was
909
:like an idealized relationship for me,
even though looking back and watching
910
:that show as an adult, you're like,
Oh, there were some red flags there.
911
:Um, but there was one time
conflict with my mother.
912
:I thought that when I got taller than
her, I was suddenly the decision maker.
913
:Christine: oh
914
:Alexander: I was like, you
can't tell me what to do.
915
:I'm taller than you.
916
:She was so quick to
tell me how wrong I was.
917
:Christine: That's not how that works.
918
:Alexander: darn it.
919
:But yeah they thought, they taught
me that I had the mistaken illusion
920
:that it was a democracy in the house.
921
:It was not.
922
:They just let me believe it was
923
:for a while.
924
:That my opinion truly mattered.
925
:And it did, but not so much
in the decision making aspect.
926
:but when I got to high school, there
was some conflict, and I would think,
927
:and I, We think that having siblings
would have helped me kind of work
928
:through maybe some working through
conflict because it was some girls
929
:in high school, my freshman year and,
it was, I could, to this day, I don't
930
:know what I did or didn't do to this.
931
:To this one girl that
made her so mad and upset.
932
:And, it became, well, then she said that
one of the other friends said, I hurt her.
933
:And I had gone to that friend and
I was like, Hey, did this happen?
934
:Can you tell me about it?
935
:Like I and then it just
didn't go anywhere.
936
:And so that was my experience.
937
:And after that, I was like, you know
what, I've made every best effort I
938
:can to repair this and we're good.
939
:So.
940
:But yeah, I think my funniest story of
conflict was telling my mom that I was the
941
:one who made the rules when I was taller.
942
:Christine: That's really funny.
943
:Oh gosh, I can only imagine
your mother be like Excuse me?
944
:You think
945
:Alexander: was, I was
schooled pretty quickly.
946
:Christine: Oh my gosh, I
947
:love your mom.
948
:Awesome.
949
:Okay okay.
950
:I think this is a perfect
way to end the episode.
951
:Let's talk about the valuable
lessons we've each learned.
952
:You being an only child and me having
siblings., I've mentioned one already
953
:but it really, conflict resolution was
a big one, thinking back on it also
954
:having the ability to, when I'm not
too emotionally invested, sometimes
955
:when I get really worked up, it's hard,
but being able to take myself out of
956
:something for a second and see situations
from different points of view that's
957
:become an invaluable tool that I really
do think, I'm, I might've learned that
958
:lesson, but I learned it a lot sooner.
959
:Thanks.
960
:in part to having siblings.
961
:So conflict resolution and being
able to see a, see all sides of
962
:the situation and empathize with
where other people are coming from.
963
:I think definitely I learned
that from having my sisters.
964
:So thanks guys, if you're listening.
965
:Alexander: Okay.
966
:So valuable lesson I
learned being an only child.
967
:I feel like one I'll be a little
cliche is my independence feeling
968
:that I really can do a lot on my own.
969
:And be okay with that.
970
:Be comfortable.
971
:Kind of in some sense
being my own best friend.
972
:Christine: Yeah, it's important.
973
:Alexander: yeah I feel like that.
974
:And I think maybe sometimes like the
space and the encouragement that I
975
:had as an only child, like that my
parents were, I was the only one.
976
:And the encouragement to
really explore my interests.
977
:So as much as I would kind of
defer to friends and things and
978
:social situations, I think I've
carried very much through my life.
979
:If I'm interested in something, I
don't necessarily need anyone else's
980
:permission to go explore it, and I
don't necessarily need anyone else's.
981
:To go with me on that journey.
982
:Like I can just go do something on my own.
983
:Which I'm sure people with siblings
have also experienced that, but I feel
984
:being an only child, more comfortable
with adults, I was just like, kind of
985
:set up to be like, okay, you go do you
986
:Christine: Yeah,
987
:definitely.
988
:Both,
989
:That's super important as well.
990
:I think something I learned a
lot later in life, honestly.
991
:So very interesting.
992
:All right.
993
:This has been quite an
insightful conversation.
994
:Thank you for being so open.
995
:Alexander: well, thank you for letting
us do this so late in the evening
996
:Christine: No.
997
:Yeah.
998
:Alexander: on a Monday evening
where I can't even tell what.
999
:Where's up and down.
:
00:54:56,373 --> 00:54:56,773
So,
:
00:54:56,913 --> 00:54:57,413
Christine: No.
:
00:54:57,913 --> 00:54:58,083
What
:
00:54:58,083 --> 00:54:58,323
date?
:
00:54:58,353 --> 00:54:59,083
It's Monday.
:
00:54:59,433 --> 00:55:00,113
Doesn't feel like it.
:
00:55:02,368 --> 00:55:03,338
Alexander: was a Monday of Mondays
:
00:55:04,441 --> 00:55:07,611
and that's a wrap on this nostalgic
journey through the ups and downs of
:
00:55:07,611 --> 00:55:09,641
growing up with or without siblings.
:
00:55:09,641 --> 00:55:13,441
We have explored the unique experiences
that shape us, whether it's the quiet
:
00:55:13,511 --> 00:55:17,451
of an only child's life or the chaos
of a bustling sibling filled household.
:
00:55:17,841 --> 00:55:21,461
We hope our stories and insights have
brought a smile to your face, a chuckle
:
00:55:21,461 --> 00:55:25,141
from our funny tales, and maybe even a
bit of reflection on your own childhood.
:
00:55:25,711 --> 00:55:28,461
Thank you for joining us and
sharing in this exploration.
:
00:55:28,601 --> 00:55:31,001
As always, we love hearing
your thoughts and stories.
:
00:55:31,171 --> 00:55:32,951
So feel free to reach
out to us on our socials.
:
00:55:33,531 --> 00:55:37,091
Stay tuned because in our next
episode, part two, we will be digging
:
00:55:37,091 --> 00:55:38,681
in even deeper with a special twist.
:
00:55:39,311 --> 00:55:42,271
Joining us will be Christine's
two sisters, both of whom have
:
00:55:42,271 --> 00:55:45,151
been guests before adding more
voices and stories to the mix.
:
00:55:45,561 --> 00:55:47,741
It's going to be a fun and
insightful conversation.
:
00:55:47,751 --> 00:55:51,081
You won't want to miss until
then cherish the memories and
:
00:55:51,081 --> 00:55:54,981
connections that make your family
born to, or found uniquely yours.
:
00:55:55,881 --> 00:55:58,421
Christine: Are you enjoying the
banter and insights we're serving up?
:
00:55:58,591 --> 00:56:02,821
If so, consider tossing some support our
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:
00:56:03,301 --> 00:56:05,841
Every bit helps in fueling
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:
00:56:06,251 --> 00:56:08,571
Find the link in our show
notes or visit our link tree.
:
00:56:08,811 --> 00:56:11,251
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:
00:56:11,797 --> 00:56:15,047
we wrap up, remember to hit that
like subscribe or follow button
:
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:
00:56:16,617 --> 00:56:19,287
Until next time, let's keep
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:
00:56:19,687 --> 00:56:21,257
We'll catch on the next episode