Growing up, and still even to this day, I will complain about being the middle child. I had to suffer through watching my sister do things 2 years before I could even dream about doing them and then watching my younger brother get away with EVERYTHING. I was stuck right in the middle, where I felt forgotten or neglected. (This is definitely not the case but I need a lot of attention sometimes.)
However, there are lots of bonuses that I fail to acknowledge on a daily basis.
1.) You're never lonely.
With an older sister and a younger brother, I had a gracious balance of time. When my sister moved out to college, I still had my brother. When I didn't want to deal with boys, including my brother, I always have my sister. If one of them is busy, chances are, the other is not. So, I have company whenever I need it.
2.) Nobody knows you better.
No matter what anybody says, my siblings are my best friends. They may not be the first to know, but they will know all of the details. From screenshots to phone calls that could last for hours. They know everything. Period.
3.) You are given motivation to succeed at life.
Whether it's out of spite or true competition, I am motivated to succeed at everything I do - or at least go down swinging. I started studying French simply because my sister took it... then I decided that I had to constantly do better than her during class.
4.) You probably have a better relationship with your parents.
Not to say my siblings and my parents have an unhealthy relationship, but my relationship with them is definitely different. I'm their child that they trust to take bigger risks. I'm the one they come to complain about the other children in the house. Most days, it's more of a friendship than a parent-child relationship. I
5.) You're able to learn from your older sibling's mistakes.
Being the middle child, I was able to watch my sister grow up and make mistakes. Now, I know exactly what to do or what not to do in certain situations. Or how to avoid situations in general. I don't have to go through the same painful life experiences as my sister because I was able to learn from her.
6.) You are able to set an example for your younger sibling.
Not to say in #5 that I never make mistakes, because I definitely do. But hopefully, my brother can learn from my mistakes as well as my . I do well in school in hopes that he wants to be as good, if not, better than I am.
7.) You're more likely to be weird.
I can't ever fall into the same category as my siblings. I have to be my own person. So, if I'm weird AF, nobody cares because that's just how middle children are. We have to stand out somehow.
8.) You have thick skin.
You know how to take a joke and dish it back without a blink of an eye.
9.) You're willing to take risks.
You know that if your older sister won't do something, you have to do it. Or if your younger brother refuses, it's basically a test of who's the best, and let's face it, it's you.
10.) You're more likely to be President.
52% of presidents have been middle children. So, who's the real winner?
11.) They help you get away with things.
Sorry Mom and Dad, but you don't get to know the trouble we get up to when you're not around. But just know, that we're always taking care of each other when we get into trouble.
12.) Your siblings are always there to take care of you when you get hurt.
The amount of times I've held my sister when crying and vice versa. Or the times when my brother will see one of ex-boyfriends and instantaneously get angry and offer to punch them in the face.
13.) You have the best siblings ever.
Even though they drive you crazy, you wouldn't trade them for the world.
