Poll: Were you a low or high maintenance child or somewhere in between?

Question

Characteristics of high and low maintenance are: 

High Maintenance: 

- Emotional: More likely to get angry, throw tantrums, yell. As a small child (ie toddler) you would have been extremely difficult to take grocery shopping. 
- Social: High maintenance people are more outgoing and tend to have many friends and acquiantices many high maintenance children must be centre of attention at all times and demand it from family (especially parents). 
- Spenders. High maintenance people or children are more likely to spend pocket money on impulse. 
- Birth order. High maintenance children are more likely to be the youngest or an only child. Maybe for the youngest it's about proving they are as tough as the older ones or because the think they have to act tough to get equal attention or think they have to act that way in order to be taken seriously. 
- Hyperactive. More likely to lack the ability to sit still.
- Stubborn. It generally takes them some forcefulness or a lot more coaxing to get them to do as they're told ie to take a bath or go to bed. 

Low Maintenance
- Placid and clam. They are more clam and less likely to get angry and yell. They are less likely to throw tantrums as children and go with the flow. 
- Low maintenance children are usually shy and have fewer friends (they aren't socially inept or anything they're just too shy to make gazillions of friends). 
- Financial - They are more likely to be smart with their money and savers not spenders. 
- Birth order - More likely to be one of many children or the eldest. 
- Calm. Physically they are less likely to be hyperactive.
- Docile. Not stubborn at all probably much less likely to argue with authority and more likely to do as they're told.  

Me: I was more a high maintenance child. Stubborn, fiery tempered and made friends easily though when it came to strangers (adults) I was very shy and saved my money much more than I spent it so I guess I'm a bit of both and I am the youngest too and the only girl.

Though I think it's sad that a child can be labeled high or low maintenance. I get what they mean but I guess that it'd be nicer to think of it in a way that some children require a little more understanding and patience than some others.

lia. · Accepted Answer

Low maintenance.

I can see qualities that I had in both categories, but generally, I was more low maintenance. I'm an only child, though, and I've never had trouble making friends, and I'm not that shy.

I've always been more mature socially and intellectually than other people my age, I've always found it easy to start and hold conversations with adults, and I've always preferred it. I guess it comes hand-in-hand with the fact that the youngest relative I had around me growing up, was 8 years older than myself (she's now 23, and I'm 16). I didn't have a younger relative until I was 7.

I do have quite a fiery personality, but only when it comes to things I am really passionate about. I am very opinionated but most of the time, I will closet those feelings, with a kind of 'let it be' mindset. Unless someone really riles me up about something, then I don't really respond, and I can keep my cool most of the time. 

I am, and always have been quite stubborn according to my mum (I just discussed this question with her!), I've never liked rules or boundaries or authority, I've always had determination.

I guess I'm a mix of both, but more towards the low maintenance side!

:)

D.B. · Answer

As a kid, I was very low maintenance. All I ever wanted to do was plat Spyro on PS1. Never really had friends or really cared about anything other than pets and TV.

When I was a pre-teen, I was more high maintenance. But the only reason why was because I was very moody, depressed and had a lot if anger issues and probably gave my mom sixty heart attacks a day lol.

Now I'm 16, and I'm back to low maintenance. I do the usual kinds of things that would stress out their parents, but over all, I would say that I'm very responsible and don't ask a lot from my parents. I work, save money, and do a lot for myself without having to put a strain on my parents.

London Lights · Answer

Middle Maintenance

? · Answer

My mum said low maintenance. I was really alert and curious as a child but also very good at keeping myself company so I rarely cried if I didn't need to be fed or changed or just wanted a cuddle. Then when I became a toddler I was really shy around adults and sometimes other kids and I was also the eldest so I guess it makes sense.

♫♪♥Music=Love♥♪♫ · Answer

I'm somewhere in the middle.

I easiley get angered and fustrated, but I'm very very good at controlling myself.. it's almost creepy how calm I get when I'm angry.. because I know I just need to chill, and I speak rationally and factually.. and I rarely yell when angry..

now when sad.. that's a different story.. when I get said I'm completely.. just not human.. I can't even go to school.

other than that I have a moderate amount of friends, I am the youngest technically, but I grew up in a house of 9 kids, (not with my birth family), and in that family I was in the middle, I like my alone time.. I think it's very important to be alone sometimes just so you can think for yourself without other people influencing you.

I spend money like it's going out of style.. lol.. I'm horrible at saving money.

For the most part though I'm generally quiet.. especially in class.. I'm pretty much mute.

jazzguevara · Answer

I was very low-maintenance. I understood at a young age, you can't always get what you want, and that I had to be angelic. I was an only child until I was 6, so, the whole only child rule doesn't really apply with me. But, my parents do get comments like "You got lucky with her." Those kinds of comments make me smile. :) They had me at a young age so, I'm surprised with the way I've turned out.

Berklee. · Answer

I would say when I was young like, 2nd grade and below, high maintenance. I had a temper and I liked things going my way. What can I say though, my parents and grandparents spoiled us outrageously while we were young. After my parents divorced and I realized money doesn't grow on tree's (3rd-4th grade) I mellowed out and became more responsible.

Blurry Angel · Answer

Middle

Zebra✶ · Answer

low maintenance. 
i was a quiet child (still am).
i usually relied on my sister for friends (she was definitely high maintenance).
i'm not a spender and i usually would spend my money on books. 
i'm the middle child (explains many things).
i was calm and docile.

Anonymous · Answer

Very low-maintenance, but I'm an only child.

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Poll: Were you a low or high maintenance child or somewhere in between?

13 Answers