Kübler-Ross had a unique childhood as one of three triplet girls born in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 8, 1926. Although the girls were all extremely small at birth, their mother, Emmy Villiger Kübler, closely attended to their physical needs and ensured their survival. Kübler-Ross, her sisters, and older brother grew up in a strict but loving household. Their father, Ernst Kübler, expected obedience from his children, but he also took them on hikes in the Swiss mountains, instilling a great love of nature in his daughter Elisabeth. One of Kübler-Ross's main concerns as she grew up was finding a way to distinguish herself from her sisters. This search for a unique identity was hampered by the fact that she was physically identical to her sister Erika, and the two were often mistaken for each other. She would frequently escape to a favorite spot in the woods to enjoy some time away from her sisters, and she also tried to develop interests that would set her apart. Seeking something completely different from her own experience, she began to study African history and one of her prize possessions was an African doll that her father gave her after she had been dangerously ill with pneumonia.
