Anyone dealing with Middle Child Syndrome either with your kids or yourself?
@njrealestategirl (369)
United States
August 6, 2007 9:05pm CST
I have 3 kids - boy, girl, boy. I'm not sure if its the whole "girl" thing or if it's because she is the middle child. She is only 4 1/2 but does not listen at all. A lot of people tell me that she acts that way because she is the middle child and even if its negative attention she gets because we are always yelling at her - negative attention is better than no attention. There is a 3 year difference between my oldest and her and my little guy and her are born exactly 2 years apart to the day. He was born on her birthday (not planned - he was premature) so now she doesn't even have her own birthday attention. I suffered from hyperemesis with all my pregnancies but when I suffered from it the last time - she was only 14 months old (a baby still) and I'm not sure if she didn't get the proper attention from me because I was so sick and that's why she acts up or because it's her personality or because she's the middle child or none of the above. Anyone have any insight to share?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
7 Aug 07
I am a middle child and female with two brothers..I honestly do not believe in middle child syndrome, I think thats its an excuse..I was brought up with the same as my brothers and I have turned out just fine..I never got and specials because I was a girl...
1 person likes this
@mistissa (1349)
• Netherlands
22 Aug 07
I recognize it totally. I just gave birth 2 months ago to a baby boy, and ever since then my other son who now is the middle child, has been behaving badly. He will pretend not to hear me, and disobey me all the time, he also started peeing in his pants again. I have no idea what to do about it, just try to give him more attention.
@FancyBriches (55)
• United States
8 Aug 07
This is a very in depth/complicated question. I have 6 children, which could effect my answer. so, going with just the first 3 which was, boy, girl boy...It is true that the experiences a child has in their first few years has a great impact on them as a person for the rest of their life. Here is where the answer to your question becomes complicated... Every child is born with their own personality and that personality grows each and every day, as they do. But yet, it is effected by the life experiences that happen around them. The thing you have to do is be fair between all of your children and be consistent with discipline. It takes much patients but if you stick with it, even if you have to put her back in time out 100 times before her time is up. She will eventually get the point. Get down on her level and speak to her like a person. Tell her why she is in time out and why you are upset with her. Respect goes both ways...if you speak to your child with disrespect they will have none for you, they are people too.
