Personality Clash

I've spent the last week reading a book about personality types with a view to understanding my children better. Here's what I've learned:

Everyone in the house has Choleric as part of their personality makeup. In practical terms, this means we all have fireball tempers and like to shout a lot.

Really, a lot.

My oldest child is first and foremost a Sanguine. This completely explains a comment she made at age four when she told us: "It is totally not fair that I'm not on television." It also explains her creativity, which is at all times perpendicular to Normal. In fact, Normal as a goal doesn't even register with her.

I, it turns out, am a Melancholy/Choleric in about equal proportions. This means I am very big on Normal. And I'm good at shouting.

My husband is a Sanguine/Choleric. He never knows a stranger and likes to crack jokes. Play is his area of expertise. He is very sanguine, so it takes him a long time to get to shouting, but if pushed he does it well.

My son is a Choleric/Melancholy, in that order. Totally explains why this kid will say the most profound things out of the clear blue. He's a deep thinker. However, he often tries to control everyone with spectacular displays of temper.

My youngest daughter is Choleric and Something-not-yet-determined. Might be sanguine, might not. She's not quite the exhibitionist her sister is, but not as self conscious as her brother. Too soon to tell, I think.

Major learning: these personality tendencies are useful lenses for viewing my family and trying to better understand what makes my kids tick, but I think it's important not to put anyone in a box.