Episode 29

Only Child vs. Siblings Pt. 1

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.

Stay Connected

Before we dive in, make sure to hit that like, subscribe, or follow button on your favorite listening platform. Let's make this journey together!

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

Before you go, don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow us on your preferred platform, and we’ll catch you in the next episode!

Transcript
Christine:

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,

360

:

have ever felt lonely or if they craved

some quiet time and alone time away

361

:

from the busy bustle, hustle and bustle.

362

:

Alexander: is there any time that

you, don't like crave alone time, but

363

:

you actually crave spending more time

with your siblings or your parents.

364

:

And is there something that would

drive that need to spend a little bit

365

:

more intense time with your family?

366

:

Christine: I think, I really crave that

time when it's the end of the day and.

367

:

I've had time to decompress from the

hecticness, but I'm just looking to

368

:

talk to somebody to talk about my

day or talk about what I've been up

369

:

to or hear what they've been up to.

370

:

So that's when I really crave

that time with myself, with

371

:

my siblings, with my parents.

372

:

And, most often I call my mom to

just Chat with her and see how

373

:

her day was or or I'll even, I

live pretty close to my parents.

374

:

So if needed, I'll say, Hey mom, I'm

going to come home for the weekend.

375

:

Hope that's cool.

376

:

Alexander: I'm just gonna,

even if it's not, I'm coming.

377

:

Christine: yeah.

378

:

And, Both my sisters now, they live

in other cities so we don't get to

379

:

chat with each other as much, but

when I'm able to catch them when they

380

:

have a free moment, it's always really

special to just catch up and I become

381

:

the listener and I just want to hear

what's been going on in their lives.

382

:

And because that's what I crave the

most was the, is that time when we

383

:

would all be together around the table

chatting about what was happening.

384

:

During the that day for each of us,

385

:

Craving more of our company?

386

:

Join the fun over on Instagram, TikTok,

and YouTube at Mirror Project Pod.

387

:

Dive deeper into our world and

engage with us on a whole new level.

388

:

Don't miss out on the excitement.

389

:

Alexander: okay.

390

:

So now that we've covered some of that

early childhood and what it was, just

391

:

some of the general differences or in

some sense similarities, because I think

392

:

we've both talked about how we've had.

393

:

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

way through our buy us a coffee page.

:

00:56:03,301 --> 00:56:05,841

Every bit helps in fueling

this passion project of ours.

:

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

We're immensely grateful

for your generosity.

:

00:56:11,797 --> 00:56:15,047

we wrap up, remember to hit that

like subscribe or follow button

:

00:56:15,087 --> 00:56:16,447

on your preferred platform.

:

00:56:16,617 --> 00:56:19,287

Until next time, let's keep

the conversation going.

:

00:56:19,687 --> 00:56:21,257

We'll catch on the next episode

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About the Podcast

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About your hosts

Profile picture for Christine Borowsky

Christine Borowsky

Introducing our enchanting co-host Christine, a nostalgic soul with a creative spark and an infectious optimism. A devourer of books, a music aficionado, and a film buff, she's immersed in the art of storytelling. Nature is her sanctuary, from forests to oceans. Eager for adventure, she's a perpetual learner, finding growth in every experience. Family and friends provide her comfort and joy. Unafraid of uncomfortable conversations, she navigates them with humor, believing they're vital for understanding and growth. Join her and Alexandra on this podcast where creativity meets curiosity, and laughter blends with wisdom.
Profile picture for Alexandra Montross

Alexandra Montross

Meet Alexandra, the spirited co-host of this captivating podcast, where everyday topics transform into enchanting conversations. With an old soul and a knack for the eclectic, she weaves a unique blend of organization and quirky charm into each discussion. Alexandra's passions span from wellness to metaphysics and dive into the thrilling world of entrepreneurship. Tune in for her lively perspective and insightful takes, adding a touch of magic to every episode alongside Christine. Get ready for a journey where Alexandra's vibrant energy and depth of knowledge create an unforgettable podcast experience.