Middle children are most successful

No, I am not a middle child, so this article is not written with a hidden agenda at all. I was the youngest at home, with all the stereotypes that apply (funny, a bit less responsible, slightly messy). By the way, I also read that the youngest child has the greatest chance of becoming a millionaire, but that's beside the point. The middle child was, in my perception, always a bit the less happy one. The middle child wore the hand-me-downs from the oldest, while for the youngest, of course, a new winter coat was bought. The middle child would never have received the full attention of the parents like the firstborn and would also always receive fewer cuddles and squeezed hands of delight and pride than that little sibling.

Fantastic being

Now I find those descriptions do not apply at all to my own middle child. She is actually a person who moves very smoothly between all layers, who chats with the adults and builds Lego with the little ones. Nowhere too good, too old, too cool, or too small for. She adapts to every situation and that’s why she is such a fantastic being.

Middle children are more honest

And that turns out to be true. From Canadian research, where they studied 700,000 middle children (University of Calgary), it appeared that middle children score higher in terms of honesty and kindness than their older and younger siblings. This is because middle children have to find the balance between younger and older brothers and sisters. Hence that adaptability.

More successful

Interestingly – as previous research shows – middle children also have a greater chance of being successful in life. Due to their position in the family, they may take the lead role a bit less, but that allows them to listen and observe better. Coupled with their ability to adapt to others, this leads to more success in their working life. Also, ‘middles’ can negotiate well and are adventurous. Probably because the oldest has already paved the way and they feel less in the spotlight like the youngest in the family does.

By the way, middle children are at risk of extinction, as we are having fewer and fewer children.

I cherish mine. And the oldest and the youngest just as much.