Middle Child Struggles

Being the middle child in my family feels like living between two worlds where everyone else is either adored for being new and exciting or celebrated for being wise and mature. I always felt squeezed out of those moments, stuck in a purgatory of childhood memories that my younger sibling will soon surpass and adulthood responsibilities that my older sibling has already conquered. When we go to family gatherings, all eyes are on the baby, who's got everyone wrapped around their little finger, while Dad keeps praising my sister for her college achievements. I’m just there in the middle, with no spotlight and often forgotten. It’s not that I want attention all the time, it’s more the feeling of being overlooked when I have stories to share too. Sometimes I wish I could split myself into a younger version to get some cuddles or an older version to earn respect for my accomplishments, but there's just me in between them both.