The Middle Child

http://boewebserver.butlercc.edu/outline/outlnmsc/Behavrioral%20Science%20BS/BS270.html

The link provided was a course outline in child psychology due to my childhood experiences I would make a good case example. The following is a description of the oldest, youngest and middle childs and it's perils. I have identified the feelings of not measuring up and have to constantly remind myself that I am measuring up. The child in me can't be fixed. As an adult I can recognize that when we are children our birth order influences parental response, which inately triggers the middle childs response. The Middle child syndrome was and is a part of my struggle to regain myself.


http://www.indiaparenting.com/articles/data/art09_029.shtml



"Is there such a thing called – “The Middle Child Syndrome”?


Middle children often feel that they are neither here nor there. In their view, the roles of the older and younger siblings are more clearly defined. They may also feel cheated of parental attention that is given to the first-born achiever and the dependent youngest child. Some psychologists have given this condition a name – they call it “the middle-child syndrome”.

Parents need to go out of their way to ensure that the middle child does not feel neglected. They should convey to the child that his thoughts and opinions are as important as those of his other siblings. They should also point out the advantages of being a middle child, telling him that he can understand his siblings best as he is both an older child and a younger one.

Whenever parents are told about this, they are truly surprised that there is such a thing like the middle-child syndrome. Parents may think they have done the best for all their kids, but isn’t it time they asked their middle child his/her views? "



My experiences as a middle child was even more defined by the abuse I bared to spare my younger siblings. The terror in their eyes as we lined up for the ritual beatings was almost more than I could bare.