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10 Struggles For The Middle Child Of The Family

Middle child syndrome is a real thing.

Ashlyn Farwell

Nov 28, 2018

University of Southern Mississippi

111

10 Struggles For The Middle Child Of The Family

https://pixabay.com/en/brothers-boys-children-look-up-2107264/

Yes I am a middle child of my family and there are countless times when I think of how nice it would be to not be forgotten when the family gets together for the holidays. That short time in my life when I was the youngest child and received all the attention was a wonderful time, until I got the news that I was going to be a big sister. From there, I soon began to see what middle child syndrome truly was and how it affects a person so deeply. I am calling out to all the middle children in their family to connect with me on all these struggles and eve more that are not listed. Don't get me wrong there are positives to being a middle child, it is not as tragic as it may seem. However, every once in a while we do like to be noticed.

1. Being called one of your siblings' names

This mainly happens when my family gets together for the holidays and my mother has not seen all her children together, but somehow by being the middle child, you are the one that gets called the wrong name. No, it is not because we look alike, it is because we are the middle child.

2. Being responsible for your younger siblings

The oldest has a job and both parents are working and do not want to hire a babysitter, so you are stuck watching the blessings that put you in the middle child spot of the family.

3. Not receiving the attention anymore

Now that you re no longer the youngest and there is a new baby in the family, all the attention goes to them now. But it does not stop when your younger sibling is no longer a baby because they will forever be known as the baby.

4. Being completely different from your older and younger siblings

You feel alone in the family sometimes because your older and younger siblings get along better than you would with either of them. You don't want to always resort to your parents when you want someone to talk to about what is going on in your life.

5. Everything important happens with the oldest

All the major firsts happened with the oldest and they will continue to remind you of that. Phrases like, "I was what started the family", and "Mom and Dad love me more". When it comes to your major mile marker the excitement is defused.

6. And everything sentimental happens with the youngest

The youngest will always get the teary eyed words from everything that they do because they are your parents' last child and they will no longer have to go through any of it again. When you go through your accomplishments, you are lucky to even get a tear from your parents because they have already been through it with their first born.

7. You don't get the respect from your younger siblings

They play and joke with you when you are in charge. You are not taken seriously and they would rather listen to the other older siblings than you.

8. Parents think that you are capable of handling it on your own when you need help

When you are going through something that you need help with from your parents, they don't give you the sentimental words of encouragement that you want to hear from them because they are too busy dealing with whatever the oldest and youngest are getting into.

9. Being the mediator between siblings

This depends on how you want your day to go really. If you are in the mood to be treated like a baby from your older sibling then side with your younger sibling but if you don't want to deal with getting pushed around then always side with your older sibling because the youngest will always get the approval from mom.

10. Living up to your older sibling's accomplishments

Everything is so cool that they do and you have this dream to be able to do something that will for once wow your parents and even your older sibling.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

10 Struggles For The Middle Child Of The Family

Middle child syndrome is a real thing.

1. Being called one of your siblings' names

2. Being responsible for your younger siblings

3. Not receiving the attention anymore

4. Being completely different from your older and younger siblings

5. Everything important happens with the oldest

6. And everything sentimental happens with the youngest

7. You don't get the respect from your younger siblings

8. Parents think that you are capable of handling it on your own when you need help

9. Being the mediator between siblings

10. Living up to your older sibling's accomplishments

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10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

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8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

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