Middle Child Syndrome
By Zehma Herring '22
We have all heard of the infamous middle child syndrome, but is it even real? In many families, the middle child is known for their emotional stability. They have a reputation for being the most level-headed, the peaceful ones. But you have probably, at least once, heard someone complain of middle child syndrome. The theory is that the middle child doesn’t get as much attention in their household. Sandwiched between the firstborn and the younger sibling, some say that they have the least room under the spotlight. But studies show that in the long run, the middle child benefits from being “overlooked” by their family. So while middle child syndrome may be real, it might actually give the middle sibling an advantage. For instance, if you look at all 45 U.S. presidents, 14 were firstborns and 7 were the youngest in their families, but the majority of American presidents were middle children. This might just be a coincidence, but it makes you wonder if middle children share certain traits that make them more likely to succeed. Maybe their distance from the spotlight gives them more independence and lets them think outside the box, like business billionaire and middle child Bill Gates. Or their independence could give them time to build their talents, like another legendary middle child, Michael Jordan. And the list goes on. But if you are not a middle child, don’t worry; you could still be president or the next Michael Jordan! In my family of five, I’m actually the youngest of the 3 children, but next time I hear my sister talk about the struggles of middle child syndrome, I’ll let her know that one day she will be thankful for it.
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Refrences
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-presidents-birth-order-2018-7