National Middle Child Day!

I was lucky enough or maybe unlucky, depend on how you look at it, to be an only child. Now when it came to me having kids I decided to have three and of course have a middle child. Let me tell you, everything they say about the middle child is very true. Today is National Middle Child Day and I have to admit they do deserve to have their own day. Here is some more information about this day and so much more.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL MIDDLE CHILD DAY

Middle children have a reputation for being ignored by their family, consequently growing up resentful, withdrawn, and disaffected. Although research shows little correlation between birth order and personality, the stereotype has persisted in pop culture characters like Jan Brady, who epitomizes the embittered middle child.

In fact, middle children might have some distinct advantages in adult life. The skills they develop as the “forgotten” sibling often translate into important qualities like empathy, diplomacy, and flexibility. In fact, over half of U.S. presidents were middle children, along with many other successful leaders.

Resourceful and independent but also cooperative and patient, middle children often grow up to be good leaders and helpful teammates. They can negotiate a variety of personalities but also do well on their own, and are known as risk-takers and independent thinkers. Because they’re frequently left to their own devices, middle children develop a self-sufficiency less common in their older and younger siblings.

Until the 1970s, American families had an average of 2.5 children. Today, due to modernization and economic and environmental pressures, fewer and fewer families have middle children, with the average American family having just under two kids.

National Middle Child Day began in 1986 as a way to celebrate the siblings who feel left out or unseen and give them a special day of their own. Until now, it’s been celebrated on August 12.

Not everyone agrees on the holiday’s date: the International Middle Child’s Union, founded by Bruce Hopman, wants to change National Middle Child Day to July 2, which falls in the exact middle of the calendar year.

NATIONAL MIDDLE CHILD DAY ACTIVITIES

1. Send your middle child or sibling a gift Let them know you’re thinking about them!

2. Watch some episodes of your favorite TV middle child Grab some popcorn and spend some time with your own kids. Take a family poll to see who your favorite TV middle sibling is, and watch a few episodes of that show.

3. Get in touch with your siblings Whether or not you have a middle child in your family, it’s never a bad time to reach out to your siblings and say hello.

5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT MIDDLE CHILDREN

1. Abe Lincoln was a middle child Over half of U.S. presidents, including John F. Kennedy, were middle children.

2. We see middle children as the peacemakers In pop culture, middle children are often portrayed as the level-headed, responsible ones who quietly keep their siblings out of trouble. Think Malcolm Wilkerson, Michael Bluth, and Lisa Simpson.

3. TGIF Crossover When Full House’s middle daughter, Stephanie Tanner, feels self-conscious about wearing her new glasses, a guest star from another popular TGIF sitcom stops by to cheer her up and give her a lesson in self-confidence. That guest: Steve Urkel, the bespectacled neighbor from Family Matters.

4. “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” Jan and Marcia Brady's rivalry wasn't just good on-screen chemistry; the two actresses didn't have a good relationship during filming, and today they're still not on speaking terms.

5. Bill Gates started programming as a teen Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist, and middle child Bill Gates wrote his first computer program as a teenager. It was a version of tic-tac-toe.

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL MIDDLE CHILD DAY

1. Middle children are going extinct Today, most women with children have two children or less—making middle children a quickly disappearing breed. Appreciate the middle children in your life now!

2. Middle children make great diplomats Because they have to navigate the social dynamics of large families growing up, middle children tend to develop strong negotiation skills.

3. It reminds us to call our relatives In today’s busy world where people scatter far from their families, it’s sometimes hard to remember to check in with relatives. National Middle Child Day gives us an opportunity to reach out to our siblings, children, or grandchildren.