Middle Child Syndrome

[semele]

As a middle child I really do believe that I have been neglected in someway. ;( :P

The eldest was always treated better (got the double bed, the bigger room, the didn't have to share their room.....) and the rules seemed to be stretched for the eldest.

The youngest was spoilt.

I am told by other people that the 'middle child syndrome' is a figment of my imagination. Could this be true??? :help:

[mel35]

Hi Semele
I don't think its a figment of your imagination.
But
Looking at it from another point of view

As the eldest child in my family I was never allowed to do things coz my parents were very protective. I didn't get a bike till I was 12 yet my younger brother got one at 9. this sort of thing happened a lot. Parents seem to get a bit more relaxed as you go down the line.
I also got into more trouble when my brother and I did something naughty- Because I was older and "should have known better"

However my younger brother always felt like he was missing out because I was allowed to do things which he felt he had to wait an eternity for.

I have 5 children and my middle child is by far the loudest she always feels like she is missing out because the 2 older girls have more freedom than her and the two younger than her- one is our only boy and then a girl (4 yo) is the baby she feels are spoilt.

I don't think it matters where you come in the family line there are always gonna be times when you feel like you missed out. :hug:

Mel

[Naomi]

There's lots of research on birth order. It's obviously very generalised, but it's interesting nonetheless. Many middle children seem to have similar perceptions that you feel Semele (and Mel's middle child) so in that sense, yes I think it exists.

My DH (first born) displays so many 'first born' traits, it's kind of funny. I was a middle child, but one of many. I definitely felt short changed as a kid, but there were so many of us (9) that it wasn't really the same thing, I don't think (oh, except that my youngest brother really was babied a lot, but by everyone, not just the parents).

[petrie46]

middle child synd is real I had trouble but i soon learnt when you get older it does get better.the first child leaves and you rule the roost.So you will just have to wait i'm afraid

[semele]

Unfortunately I moved out pretty soon after my elder sister did so now I just see the favouritism towards the youngest.

Actually, my parents have just moved over to Canada but the offers of money go to youngest sibling who seems to use his money on partying. :roll:

[Cheyenne]

I'm a middle child as well, and I think that midd kid syndrome is very real. lol My older sister didn't have it easy though. I watched her "plow the way" for myself and my younger sis. What I hated most about being the middle child, was always getting hand me downs. Rarely did I get new clothes, because my sis was only 2 years older than me, and just the "right size". My baby sis didn't have to wear the clothes for the 3rd time, because she is 4 years younger and so always got new stuff too. I always thought my baby sis was spoiled, but now I know that she got away with a lot that I didn't, because mom was just out of umph by the time she reached "that age". lol

[semele]

Ah yes, the hand-me-downs :roll: ;)

My sister was also 2 years older than me so I had that experience.

[Marsha]

I'm a twin :) to brother Michael

No older or younger siblings. Don't know what makes me exactly LOL

Marsha xx