We often hear people saying, "Man, I wish I had an older sibling" or, "I've always wanted to have a younger sister or brother." Lucky for us middle children, we have both. While there are some negative stereotypes attached to being a middle child, there are many perks as well. What a lot of people don't realize is that being a middle child is actually the bomb.
The Older Sibling(s)
We gain a lot from having an older sibling. We get to see them experience important life moments and learn from what they do.
Through my older brother, I was able to understand how to take on the future. Throughout his academic career, he has always excelled. Whenever I had a teacher in high school that also had my older brother as a student, the bar was set high. Appreciably, it motivated me to work hard in school and work to my full potential.
The older sibling is also the most responsible. My older brother is typically the one to be watching out for everyone when all of the siblings are together, making sure we don't do anything, well, stupid. As the second oldest, I take on some responsibility, but it doesn't entail the pressure of being completely in charge. It's a great in between!
The Younger Sibling(s)
The special part about having a younger sibling is getting to share what you have learned with them. It's exciting when they come to you, asking for advice based on your experiences. In a way, it's like passing down what you've learned from your older siblings.
I'm lucky enough to have both a younger sister and a younger brother. Because my sister and I are close in age, we've always been each other's best friend. Every time she has come to me for help, I've done my best to give her the best advice, because I know that she values my opinion. She still calls me from college to get my opinion on certain things and it turns into an hour long conversation about a completely different topic, which is one of the best things ever.
My younger brother is still in high school, and every time I go home it's like he's grown two more inches. The exciting thing about him is that, while I do get to give him advice here and there, I also get to see him accomplish a lot on his own. It's always rewarding to see what your younger siblings achieve.
You gain so much from having both younger and older siblings. You get to watch your older sibling grow and learn from what they do, and you get to help your younger siblings out and watch where life takes them. Next time you're feeling like you're experiencing middle child syndrome, remind yourself that you've got the best of both worlds!
