As I was growing up, I always felt closely connected to both of my sisters. I still am, but I have come to realize that 'The Middle Child Syndrome' is a real issue! My older sister can use "I'm the oldest!'' in certain situations, and my younger sister most certainly gets away with things by being the youngest out of the bunch. There's not much the middle child can say to get out of a sticky situation. If you are a middle child, then I hope you can relate to these struggles that I frequently encounter.
1. You are constantly being compared to your siblings by other people.
Most of the time, teachers and peers know who I am because they know one of my sisters. There are pro's to this, but they usually do seem slightly disappointed when they discover that I don't have the admirable qualities that my sisters have.
2. You really want your parents to be proud of you and your accomplishments.
My older sister is just one year older than me, so I often feel like I am just walking in her shadow. My younger sister is the one who is still at home, so she gets recognized as the one who knows all the rules. I try hard to show my parents that I am an individual with remarkable skills.
3. You are also great at handling problems.
My older and younger sister rarely get into arguments and fights, but I know how to stop them if they do. As a middle child, I can easily come up with solutions that will make everyone involved happy.
4. You stand by what you believe in when a fight begins.
Unfortunately, there are times when I am involved in a fight with one or both of my siblings. When this happens, my parents usually assume it is my fault. I may get blamed the most, but I now know how to stand up for myself.
5. You learned how to share early on.
I usually get what's left from my older sister, so she can go buy something new. On the other hand, my younger sister usually gets what she wants early on. After all, she is the youngest.
6. You are known as the dramatic child.
As I mentioned above, middle children want some attention too! I believe that all middle children are fantastic at acting. We always love to have some fun and get attention! I'd like to give a special shout-out to Jan Brady and Stephanie Tanner. You represent middle children well.
7. You wouldn't have it any other way.
Without my sisters, I wouldn't even be the middle child.