Although birth order may have a looser connection to temperament than once thought, many people feel it helped shape their childhood. Middle child John, in his 40s, says his place in the family gave him the ability to stand on his own two feet. "I think being a middle child made me self-sufficient. Because my older brother and younger sister got more attention, I was less dependent on my parents and learned to get things done on my own." He says it carried into adulthood because he was a natural leader. "I would say we're all successful, but my parents and both of my siblings turn to me as the leader and organizer in the family."