Mothers

* crazyH*I have middle child syndrome too,was never as pretty or a clever or as talented as my sisters either side of me.It did influence my life as I've always had low self esteem.Only people who have been subjected to negativity will understand .
When I was in my 40's I was mistaken for my sister by a woman she had known in her teens ,I told mum and her reply was " I dont understand that ,she was always the beautiful one"
.Even then when I was caring for her after dads death and juggling a small child a teenager ,2 businesses and a home and husband she still made me feel as if I was somehow second rate .I loved my mum,I did all I could to make her life better right until the day she died .I just wish she could have built some confidence in me instead of destroying what little I had.

How sad for those of who had to get married to escape your mothers. My mother was a disciplinarian....at the time I used to hate her rules....but now I do realise what a great mother she was....I took tips from her but I don't think it has worked with my children. They look negatively on their childhood (that's what I feel). I have a fairly good relationship with all three , but my middle son certainly has middle child syndrome ?

Ditto, ditto ,ditto.
I married as soon as I could without needing her permission, my father had died when I was 11.
She never changed but I supported her from a geographical distance until she died, but did not mourn or have any regrets apart from what she missed and she really did.

Sad indeed - and I can identify with every word. I too escaped as soon as I could, going to university much too young - I had done all my exams a year early.

My dear sister (much younger than I) was left at home to face the same problems alone for many years after I left. She decided against having children because she was so fearful that her mothering would be equally problematical.

Very sad.