Birth Order: The Middle Child Syndrome

I often think that a large reason I am the kind of person I am is because I am a middle child. Being a middle child means...you never stood out, so you had to do something to stand out. My older brother was favored because he was the oldest, my little sister was favored cuz she was the baby. I had to act like a kid on crack to get any attention...and usually the attention I got was negative attention cuz that's all I could muster up. I was and continue to be the black sheep. My brother is married and has two kids, living the happy, married life. My sister is the preppy girl next door type with lots of friends and a wonderful social life. I am the 22 year old that has no idea what she's doing with her life, going to school with only a small idea of what I want to do but wandering aimlessly, searching for the answer. I am the pseudo-adult who can't make a decision on relationships, nor friendships.

I like who I am...but that doesn't mean I don't have middle child syndrome...

What position in the birth order are you? Do you think it has anything to do with the kind of person you are now? How does it? How doesn't it?

I need to write a book *laughs*

 

im a middle child
every one of my sibilings are spoiled rotten and are awful people to know, that is why i dont talk to them.
I am glad that I am middle child cause I would jump off a cliff if I was like my sibilings...

 

I'm the youngest of two - though my brother is eight years older than I. By the time I was 9, he was out of the house, so much of my childhood life I lived a similar life to that of an only child.

 

I'm a middle child, dunno if it has an affect on me or not.

 

I am the classic oldest child in an alcoholic family...I'm overly responsible, overly mature, I nurture everyone I meet, I'm an enabler...and sometimes I feel the need to drink too...but I don't...because I'm going to break the cycle...

 

Im the Youngest... the Brat...

 

im an only it has everything to do with how i am now i still live at home amd am still babyied

 

I'm the oldest, which means I was raised by far stricter parents than my brother and sister. I got in trouble for everything, paving the way for my sister who had it slighly easier, and then on to my brother who could get away with almost anything.

 

only child from a split home... so spoiled rotten as a kid (especially by my dad's mom, I'd get something every single time I went to visit them). However, I was also taught to really value those things I got, to always say thanks, and to not expect them - they were a gift and a treat, not something I should always get.

I think I'm a bit strange for an only child. I'm usually overly mature, and occasionally extremely young. I actually enjoy responsibilities, and I handle my finances pretty well (ok, not at this moment but that's because my hours at work have gone down significantly, and I'm working on fixing it). I don't demand things in life, I don't expect more than other people... hell, I think most people feel they're entitled to a lot more than they really are entitled to.

 

Quoted twice for truth.

 

I'm the upper-middle of four. We're spread out over 16 years, so my sister and I are a lot older than my brothers, we had it more strict, and they got away with anything.

I also have the "was supposed to be a boy" syndrome, so I was made to be a tomboy, and then was completely ignored when the real boys arrived on the scene.

 

i'm the oldest of two. my sister is 1 1/2 years younger than me. it has a lot to do with who i am, like my parents kind of made me into a protective brother of sorts. i was the oldest so it was my duty to make sure nothing happend to my little sister. so i did that.

and of course, my punishments were a lot harsher than what she got. i got grounded a lot, while my sister, if she did the same thing wouldn't be in as much trouble as i had.

i'm the responsible one. i work for what i get.

on the other hand, my sister gets a lot of things paid for her, shes just got her first job now and shes 18. i had my 1st job when i was 14. so its a lot different between me and her.

 

I'm the only child....and now my mom is probably wishing she had more!!

 

imho... i think being the oldest is the worst. then again, it is all relative.

 

I am the oldest of 5 boys. I didnt have it too rough, I really never rebelled to make their life hard. I was a good child. my younger brother, jamie, did all the rebelling and made their life a headache. I do believe that the very middle brother had it tough, and he always did things to get noticed. when he was really young, he was jealous of my brother david, who was right after him....... he was the baby for only a year and 1/2..... and never was the oldest..... so I feel sorry for him. anyways, I was the oldest of my family, plus I was the oldest on my dad's side of the family too. so, I was extra special, especially to my grandma.

 

Well, I'm a middle child. I'm the peacemaker of the family. My sisters always come to me for advice or with their problems. They admire the fact that I was the only one who made it to college and got a professional job, making more than both of my sisters salaries put together. Although I came from an abusive family, my sisters and I, all married abusive men. However, I was the first to break the cycle by getting out of my abusive relationship early and they admired me even more. My mom finally divorced my dad last year, after 38 years of marriage. She was 16 years old when she got married.
My oldest sister got pregnant at 16 and was kicked out of the house. Her husband died about 2 years ago, so now she's a widow with two sons. She's barely making ends meet working at a resturant.

My youngest sister has been married twice with abusive men. She can't make any decision unless she gets mom's approval. She's been working at our local Gas company for 8 years and just now making $12hr. She is the type that always have to have a man because she is scared to be alone.

Sometimes it sucks being the middle child!!!

 

I'm the middle child and I think it has everything w/ how I am now. I've always been different from my 2 brothers, always more artsy and creative. I actually did a Science Fair project about birth order in 8th grade. There are a ton of good books about it, you should check 'em out. It's a really interesting study.

 

replace oldest with youngest and ya got me

 

i'm the oldest of four.. my bro's 2 yrs younger, then one sis is 9 yrs younger and the other is 17 yrs younger... i had to be the most responsible, and basically the "good kid" growing up... then something happened and now i'm the "bad kid" they compare to my brother who is apparently more responsible and doing better than I am now and they're so proud of him... we're both going to school and working, but they've helped him out more than they helped out with me because i got grants when i got into college... apparently i don't do enough around the house. anyway, i don't know. i used to be very responsible for my age.. responsible for other ppl more than myself and now that i pretty much only have myself to worry about, i don't worry so much and let things go a little...