What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
Kids & Family:Parenting
This is one of our deep dives on how kids are shaped by their siblings. Find the rest of the episodes in this deep dive series in this Spotify playlist.
Most people believe middle children are prone to feeling insecure and left out because they get less attention. Their primary emotional state? Jealousy of siblings. Studies show that we think these problems are real and inescapable. A City College of New York study found participants were most likely to use words like “overlooked” to describe middle children— while completely unlikely to use the word “spoiled.”
Psychologist Dr. Alfred Adler first proposed a “middle child syndrome” in the 1920s, and ever since, most of us have assumed the Jan-Brady worst. But Dr. Adler also believed that middle children’s place in the birth order made them “uniquely poised to succeed.” Are we getting it wrong? Are there lifelong benefits for kids who grow up neither the pressured oldest nor the coddled youngest?
In this episode we discuss:
Writer Adam Sternbergh, himself a middle, says that "being a middle child is not something you aspire to; it’s something that happens to you.” While that may be true, it also turns out that we should perhaps all be jealous of them. Being a middle kid can be secretly great.
Here's links to research and other writing on the topic discussed in this episode:
We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website:
https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/
mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, middle child, siblings, middle kid
BEST OF: Uh Oh, It's Summer!
Fresh Take: Jessica Calarco on Women as America's Social Safety Net
Tips for Vacationing with Extended Family
DEEP DIVE: When You Feel Like a Failure as a Parent
Fresh Take: Sarah Gristwood on What We Can Learn From Women's Diaries
When Our Kids Are Bad at Making Friends
DEEP DIVE: Bad Mom Moments (with guest Arianna Bradford)
Fresh Take: Naomi Cahn and June Carbone on Building a Just Economy
How Old Is Old Enough?
DEEP DIVE: JoAnn Crohn of "No Guilt Mom"
Fresh Take: Cameron Normand of "Stepfamily Solutions"
Do We Need to Lower Our Standards?
DEEP DIVE: Dr. Pooja Lakshmin on Burnout and Mom Guilt
Fresh Take: Danielle Bayard Jackson on "Fighting for our Friendships"
MAY BONUS TEASER: Our Myers-Briggs Personality Tests!
What Fresh Hell Is Mother's Day?
DEEP DIVE: Ditching Mom Guilt
Fresh Take: Dr. Alok Kanojia on Parenting a Healthy Gamer
How To Deal With Picky Eaters
DEEP DIVE: Parenting as a Team
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Dr. Laura Call of the Day
Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
Calm Parenting Podcast
Anne of Avonlea
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast