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Middle Child Syndrome

middle child

Sandy and Kathy

I was the second born in a family of three girls.  This, of course, made me the dreaded “middle child”.  From experience and observing other families I can say the problems of the middle child seem to be true.

The first child in our family was my sister, Kathy.  She was born four years before me.  She was the first child, grandchild, and niece.  She seemed to be the favorite of everyone from my standpoint.  Then I came along.   I was told that since my parents already had a girl it would have been nice to have a boy.  Oh well, it didn’t turn out that way, but they adjusted.   I remember our home life being normal and pleasant.  My dad was in the service and I was two days old when he was deployed.  So, having no males around I didn’t like them very much.  I have been told that later in life I made up for that! Whatever that means!!!  Then it happened, another girl was born into our family five years later.  This now made me a middle child.   Continue reading

Big Sister Power

I remember the night that I became a big sister. Mom was at the hospital and dad took me to the PizzaVilla. He worked there on the weekends delivering pizzas. He ordered the two of us a large with a different topping on each slice. Standing below the counter, I remember him holding me up so I could approve his special order.

That was the beginning of my experience as the oldest child in our family. But being a big sister was important and “perks” came with the position! Continue reading

Third Time is the Charm

third timeBeing the “baby” in a family of three girls had its benefits and downsides. My ideas and suggestions about things were often discounted because I was the “baby”. On the other hand, I learned to be flexible and to go with the flow. Continue reading