Dear Cr-Abby from Happy in the Middle

DEAR CR-ABBY:
Like "Middle Child in Hackensack, N.J." (Nov. 4), I am a middle child. I have an older brother and a younger sister, and I, too, felt my siblings were favored.
When I was younger, it seemed I was blamed for everything and got nothing from my parents. I am 20 now, and realize that my parents actually gave me a lot.
Because they never spent the money on me that they did on my siblings, I have worked since I was 16 to get what I want, and I've learned how to manage my money. I understand sharing better than they do because I've always had to let my little sister use and borrow my things. I have also learned to accept that nothing comes without hard work, and that the best of everything isn't always the most expensive.
"Middle Child" is not alone. I believe many parents with three kids act this way, although not consciously. Don't resent your family members for this because they do love and care about you. Learn what you can from it. Those lessons will help you more in the long run than being spoiled now will. -- HAPPY IN THE MIDDLE

Dear Boy Named Sue,

So, your take is that your parents inability to dole out dollars and affection in equal measure actually made you a better person...sounds like you are taking the high road, but I'm not buying it.

My guess is you just bought 14 copies of this article and are going to strategically leave them laying around your parents and siblings homes.

As the eldest child in our clan, I'm here to tell you we are suppose to treated better and get the attention so that we can thump on the younger ones and break your dolls when we play war...it is how we become these terrific Alpha Males that are so popular today's culture.

Not Buying your story,

Cr-Abby