I think we've all stumbled upon the silly jokes on Pinterest and even here about what it means to be the middle child. A bunch of brave souls have even posted comedic reels on TikTok explaining in a funny way a lot of things middle children go through. However, I am not here to talk about those.
No, I am here to talk about how tiring it is to be the middle child for a whole other reason. You are always the mediator; you are always trying to balance things out between the older and the youngest sibling. The mediator between the other siblings and the parents. Probably, it's not the same for all middle children; but God am I tired of always trying to explain to every single person in my family what the other means. Always the one the others are going to complain to. For a while it is nice, you are seen, you are trusted, but how much weight can you carry? You get to understand everyone but no one gets you or each other because they just can't speak their minds to each other.
The double role you have to fill in; not just a younger sibling but also an older one as well. It takes some time to get used to. Especially, when the youngest sibling is younger for more than three years. Personally, I still can't shake my younger sibling behaviour off; I still make my older brother's life a living hell. I still prank him in the way only younger siblings do. He is the one I call when I don't know something, cause it's easier to ring him than search it on Google. At the same time, I can't help constantly worrying about my little brother; I need to put him to bed when he is drunk and emotional, set a bucket by his bed and make sure he sleeps on his side. I still whine at my older brother when he doesn't go along with all my whims but I also act the same as him with our younger brother.
Being the middle child means you are always in the middle of everything whether you want it or not. It is tiring, it is tough, and sometimes it drives you insane. Nevertheless, I wouldn't change it for the world.
I stumbled upon a video on tiktok about how one would do anything for their siblings apart from something really simple. And you know it's true. All of those who have siblings know it's true. Of course, I am going to cover you to our parents when you are out getting tattoos, but no I am not taking the trash out for you.
My little brother had an "adventure" of sorts this summer and ended up in the hospital. He is completely fine, there is nothing to worry about now. But back then the doctors said that if he hadn't come to the hospital when he had, he would be in desperate need of a kidney transplant and probably a liver one as well. It goes without saying how worried my parents were. My older brother and I were too, but had there been the need, we would be racing towards the hospital to give him one of our kidneys. No questions asked, we would be there. And we know he would do the same too.
It's those things but also the most trivial that show how much you care about one another. It is how my little brother always picks up his phone when I call him, even when he is out clubbing. It's how whenever I call any of my brothers to keep me company while I walk home at night, they are always there with no complaints.
It's how they always check whether I am wearing my seatbelt before they start the car. They may not bring me my charger when I ask them to or tell me to go get a glass of water myself. But it's how they will pay for my coffee when we are out together and even remember my order. It's how I know they can tell when I am struggling.
So yeah, siblings. They get on your nerves. Most of the time you don't want to do what they tell you to, or don't want to give them your things. You always fight and snitch on each other over the stupidest things. BUT, they are a friend for life. You know that no matter what, they are there. Sometimes, I don't know what to do with this information. How lucky one can be, to have siblings right? No matter the scraped knees and the bruises from all the fights.
I have to admit something. Having siblings is a blessing, but it is also cruel. What do you mean I have to live 18 years of my life with them and then just walk away? Go into the world and live as an adult and make plans in order to see them? Live in a house on my own, not having to hide the remote or wake up earlier in the morning in order to use the bathroom first? What kind of fuckery is this? There is a possibility that I won’t even be within driving distance from them? I spend 18 years with them, laughing, crying, arguing, cheering, fighting and making all kinds of memories only to have to walk away from seeing them everyday?
I know that this isn’t always the case, that I can also see my siblings every day once I am an adult too. But to have to make plans in order to do so? To check if they are available to go grab a coffee or watch a movie? It seems so weird and a bit cruel to me. How can we go from seeing each other constantly to living far away from each other? It seems so strange...