One in three children suffer from “Middle Child Syndrome.”

You can only be the baby in a growing family for so long. We all will admit taking advantage of this role while it lasted. Being too young, and too little to fold the laundry, to walk the dog and take out the trash.

That was until the dreaded news came and your parents sat you and your older sibling down to have an exciting talk. They seemed so happy to ruin the lifestyle you were living, they even gave you a shirt that said big sister/brother. How could they do this to you? After being the Baby for five years, they are just going to take that away? How dare they?

Nine months went rather quickly and your family grew. This time, you felt how your older sibling did when you were first born. Forgotten, left out and even invisible. Everyone was so wrapped up in the new baby that you kind of just faded into the background. That was until your parents needed help with something, then they knew exactly where you were.

You were suddenly a mini adult and could do everything adults did except stay up past 9:30 on a school night and cross the street without holding someone’s hand. Folding the laundry and vacuuming the steps was now your job. But let’s not forget about feeding the dog, emptying the dishwasher, watering the flowers, sweeping the floor and washing the windows until they became as invisible as you felt. This went on for quite some time before you got the courage to ask why your siblings could not help but you already knew the answer. Because the baby is simply too little and your older brother or sister was too busy.

Being “stuck in the middle” was so not fair especially when it came to the rules set by Mom and Dad. The first born child was the reason for the rules. They grew up without anyone to influence your parents' parenting style. It was them that showed Mom and Dad rules needed to be put in place for the next child to come along. Of course, when you draw the straw that ended up being you. You had no choice but to follow all the rules created after child number one. However, the baby was much too young to understand nor follow them any of the rules, even at age seven. You felt as if the rules only really applied to you. You were expected to behave like an adult but be treated like a child. Where was the justice?

As time went on you began to accept living with “Middle Child Syndrome”, you did not have much of a choice anyway. Once you and your siblings grew up most of the responsibilities and rules applied to everyone, not equally but at least they existed. You never thought that you would like being in the middle but you began to see its perks.

When being in the middle you always have someone to look up to, some to follow after. Although they may have picked on you for your braces and having a hard time in math, you knew it was all out of sibling love. Besides, if anyone else tried to take their job of picking on you whether it have been the kid across the street or some little punk on the bus you could count on your big brother or sister to take care of that.

Another fun perk of being the middle child is there is still someone who gets to look up you. They may take your clothes or your favorite spot off the sofa but you are bigger; take it back, make them move. You get to protect them and teach them right from wrong. Show them how to tie their shoes and pack a lunch in the morning. You are their role model and it is a great feeling. It’s hard to believe how resentful you were toward them when they took your place as the baby but know you’re glad they did.

You won’t admit you like being the middle child but your secret is safe with me.