I’ve three kids. Big, Middle and Little.
They’ve each got very different personalities.
Sometimes, I find myself with just one of them in view and I get thinking about their position in the family and how it affects them.
I had to go back to last summer to find a photo of the three looking at the camera
I look at my eldest and I think:
It’s just not fair to you.
You’re held back by these little ones and their babyish needs.
They boss you around.
They seek so much more attention.
You want your own space but they want to hang out with you.
We expect so much more of you.
It’s hard being the eldest.
I look at my middle man and I think:
It’s just not fair to you.
You’re neither big enough nor small enough for everything.
You’re passed over at every end.
You’re not the biggest and not the smallest.
You’re in their shadows.
You have to compromise.
It’s hard being in the middle.
I look at my youngest and I think:
It’s just not fair to you.
You’re being made grow up too quickly.
You don’t get to do things appropriate for your age like your brothers did when they were your age.
You’ve been dragged on school runs and activities drop offsto collect from gym class.
You’re bossed around by them.
You’re a big almost three yet they say you’re a baby.
It’s just not fair.
Then, I look at my eldest and I think:
You have it great really.
You are adored by your younger siblings.
You’re the first to be allowed to do anything.
It’s great being the eldest.
I look at the middle man and think
You have it great really
You’re one of the “big ones” and one of the “little ones”.
You’re looked up to by your little sister and looked out for by your big brother.
It’s great being in the middle.
I look at the youngest and think
You have it great really
You get to do things we didn’t even think of doing when your brothers were your age.
You get your own way and your brothers (often) concede just because you’re smaller.
It’s great being the youngest.
I look at them all and think:
You all have it great, you really do. You have each other, to help you grow up, to let you stay small, to chase around the house, to tickle and giggle, to bicker and bark.
It’s great to be a the biggest, and the middle and the littlest, to be part of it all.
And it’s great to be watching you all find your place in the world.
