My sweet boy. Saying you’re stuck in the middle when you have three siblings doesn’t make math sense, but family-dynamic wise, with younger twin toddler siblings and an older sister, it makes perfect sense.
You are the poster child for middle child. And right now, you don’t have eye-rolling drama — or need your bottom wiped — so you’re pretty much my favorite kid. It also means you get neglected some, and for that, I’m really sorry. You’re the kid who needs the least from me right now, and so some days, that’s what you get.
I don’t have to wipe your nose, chase you around the house to get you dressed, put your toothpaste on your toothbrush, or make sure you aren’t endangering yourself by climbing the bookcases. I don’t have to talk you off a ledge some nights, explain to you about friendships and hormones, or work through complicated math with you. You’re just in this sweet spot of childhood — and it happens that you’re also the middle child. So your big sister gets all the firsts, and your twin siblings get all the attention and help, and you get to, well… play on your tablet? Do LEGOs in your room by yourself? I know. I already feel bad.
On some days you act like the middle child — tackling your brother, torturing your big sister, teasing your little sister. It’s hard to be the kid stuck in the middle who also doesn’t need us as much as a toddler or as much as a tween. (You’re not my favorite those days, btw.) Some days, I straight up don’t blame you, although I prefer you just ask for a hug, rather than taking your brother’s favorite elephant from him.
I know, given how kids change, one day you’ll need more from me than the others do, and I promise, I will be there. I just wanted you to know that right now, while you’re in that sweet spot of childhood that is so enjoyable, on top of being the middle kid, who is always overshadowed by all the cool stuff his sister is doing and the chaos that comes with toddler twins, I do see you. And I do know you’re there. And you have my heart.
