Do middle children suffer? by alex salem

I picked this subject because I am amazing at it, I am the middle child of a family of three boys. I have an older brother who is one and a half years older than me and a younger brother who is six years younger than me, life can be hard. So I’ve got some advantages and disadvantages and some tips and tricks to make your life easier as a middle child.  

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Advantages:

• You learn to be diplomatic and share
• You always have someone to play with
• Parents are less stressed because they have done it before
• You can get into schools more easily because of the sibling policy of some schools
• You can see what is ahead, such as exams
• You don’t have to worry about taking responsibility when it means that you should have known better.
• You can stay under the radar because your parents don’t have time to discipline you
• Luckily I get to spend more time with my younger brother as we sit together in the back of the car. Even if my older brother is in the car I am able to claim the middle seat so I can sit next to my younger brother and I am able to talk to my parents through the gap.

 
Disadvantages:

• ‘Hand me downs’: many of my clothes and toys are from my older brother and some of them are worn out a bit. Or even worse, sometimes I am told that I cannot have new things as there is enough left from my brother.  What’s really annoying is having to wait until my birthday or save my own money to get anything new. I feel really bad for my little brother because he has double hand me downs which must absolutely suck.
• Less time with parents to do homework and have fun with them. The older one gets more of their time because he is the one who does new things. The younger one has more time with them as he is still little and he has no responsibility and cannot get the blame for anything.
• Understand that exams are coming soon and can stress you
• You are always compared to the older one which can sometimes go in your favour, but not always
• Always having to listen to the subjects that my older brother does not enjoy – he has taught me that comprehensions are really boring. I have heard it so often that it has now rubbed off on me
• I am never allowed to sit in the front of the car, except on special days.
• I always get blamed when my little brother squeals.

 
 
Tips and Tricks
 

• Keep a good relationship with your siblings because you don’t want them teaming up against you (and for other future reasons).
• Make the most of your time with your parents.
• Tell your parents how you feel.
• Try and find a time slot when they are not busy, stressed and tired.
• If your parents are too busy to help with homework ask if you can go to a friend’s house where you can get help with your homework and have fun.
• Share a fun hobby with your parents, like football with your Dad and reading with your mum.
• Teach your parents a new skill that you enjoy. I’ve been teaching my mum football skills
• Everyone is different and don’t worry if your big brother is better than you at something.
• Teach your little brother to share and teach him skills such as humour and imagination.

 
 
Remember, you are better together than on your own!
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