I am a middle child, and personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even though I don’t have much to compare it to, I think being the middle child is by far the best. 

      The middle children get the full sibling experience. The disadvantage of being the youngest sister or brother is idolizing and living in the shadow of your older siblings, while the problem that comes with being the oldest is that you are constantly the one being told what to do and how to act in order to set an example for your younger siblings. Being the middle child, you grow up with an idea of the choices you need to make because you’ve already experienced them with your older sibling, causing you to be a better example for your younger sibling. You simply give guidance and receive it, too.

      On top of that, my favorite part is that we get away with so much more. As the middle child, parents have always been too busy wondering what the little sister or brother was getting into and too focused on keeping the older sister or brother out of trouble. Just by default, the middle child was the one given a tad more freedom. Personally, my older sister and I are always held to the same standards, but being the middle child I have been able to get away with and do more, only because it’s already happened with my older sister, so my parents don’t spend much time worrying about it with me. For instance, my parents have been more at ease with me when I ask to stay out a couple more hours, or go to parties and such. Whereas, when my older sister was going through her teenage years, she usually got an automatic“no”.

      Finally, the best experience of all, when you grow up, you have two best friends, one that pulls you up and matures you and another that always keeps you young.