Hi. My name is Ashley Bowden and I am a middle child. There really should be a support group for this. Being the middle child is hard. You're not the first born. You don't have that special quality. No, you're the second born. Parents still love you and are excited, but they've done this all before. They're a little more relaxed and you're not as spoiled. You're also not the last born. You're not the baby. The baby is the one that is just too hard to watch grow up.
I know my parents love me, but I'll never be their favorite. That's okay though, I've come to terms with it. However, growing up is exhausting. I felt as though I had to fight to prove something to not only them, but to myself. I always got the best grades, my teeth were always perfect when I went to the dentist, anything to try and be just a little better than my brother and sister.
Even now that we're all grown up, there are some times where I still feel a little left out. My brother, Jeffrey, has a fiance and a kid now. He's a true adult, starting a family. He gave my parents their first grandchild. My sister Jessica, a special needs child, always needs a tad more attention and help. She's started working part time and is slowly learning about what it means to be a high school graduate, so every little thing she does is the center of attention. Then there's me. Working a steady job, about to be full time and start paying rent. Nothing too exciting, nothing special. Just, normal.
Ever hear people use the term Middle Child Syndrome? Well, it's certainly real. You may be the "center", but you're not the center of attention.
That's not to say everything is bad though. I have a great relationship with my siblings and my parents. I have my own special bond with them. I get to have a big brother, me being his first little sister and best friend. I also get a younger sister. Someone who looks up to me. Someone I can care for.
I love my brother so much. He's always looked out for me and always been my best friend. I love all my memories with him and I'm so thankful for everything he has done and continues to do for me. I'm now an Aunt because of him and his fiance. That's one of the greatest feelings in the world. The bond I have with my brother is very strong. I mean, he shaved his head when I lost my hair to cancer. He encouraged me to fight through it all and get better. He believed in me. Also, yes, we do look very much alike.
My sister, despite being quite the pain at times- then again whose sister isn't- is one my best friends. I really don't know how to describe our relationship at times because I don't really think there are words. I mean, she's my little sisters, that's all there is to it sometimes. We argue a lot, as we are close in age, but we have some really good times together as well. We joke a lot, play games, we even currently work together. As my mother says, which I don't like to admit, we're each other's best friend.
So yes, being the middle child is hard. There a lot of times I hate it. I work hard, but still feel pushed in the background. I'll never be my parent's favorite, but that's okay. I have a wonderful family, an amazing big brother, and a wonderful little sister.