The Middle Child

Since this week we have an open topic so to speak, I decided to talk about what it's like being the middle child.

I am the middle of five! Farien and Rosyani are older, then two younger sisters, Soraya and Bel. I guess really, it was three against two. Farien and Rosyani are so much other than the rest of us, that they were always off in their own world, with the three of us sticking together.

Being the middle child in this dynamic is much different than in a typical family, I suppose. Rosyani and Farien were over there, and I was basically the oldest of the younger trio. After our Father died and Farien began helping more with the Kingdom, and Rosyani having her troubles, the distance between us grew.

I tried for a time to keep the peace between the two sides, the way a middle child usually acts. It was too soon though, that I joined the side of my younger sisters. Rosyani drifted further away from us until finally, it was almost like she wasn't part of the family at all. Which was our fault entirely, I don't blame Rosyani at all. But, with the two older siblings gone in a sense, I was the one that had to take up the role of 'big sister'.

I felt an enormous amount of pressure from this new role. Being a teacher, one would think I could handle the pressures of others looking up to me and relying on me. It is a completely different matter when it concerns family opposed to students in a classroom setting. I became a perfectionist. Every thing I did or said had to be exactly right or I felt that I had failed in some way.

Too late I realized how much I needed Rosyani, my big sister. But I had pushed her away. I suddenly felt alone. Between our Mother still painful grieving the death of our father, Rosyani's struggles with no powers, Farien's stress to fill our father's shoes, and my younger sister's apparant lack of compassion for others, I felt our family had fallen apart - and it was my fault. I had failed in someway to hold everyone together. As a middle child, wasn't that my role? To keep the peace and hold everyone together?

It wasn't until recently that I realized no one should bear such a heavy responsibility. I missed out on a lot of things - fun adventures and even trouble - I wanted to do in order to keep at this vain attempt to hold our family together. But, things just became worse the more time that passed. I wonder now if any thing I did ever made a difference at all. Was my sacrifice really worth it?

Love of Teaching Times Ten

Ten Things I Love About Teaching

1. Teaching younger faeries about their powers gives me great pride. I contribute to the future of our world by mentoring others.

2. I get to give back to my instructors by mentoring others. It's my way of saying thank you to them for teaching me.

3. It's great to see the light shine in my students eyes when they master their powers or when they reach a new skill level. It makes me happy that they are happy.

4. I have the thrill of meeting so many other faeries. I love being surrounded by so many smart and dedicated faeries and making new friends.

5. I continue to learn from my students even as I teach them.

6. As an assistant to many of the other teachers, I have the joy of knowing I am helping them. Teaching can be stressful at times, but I'm glad I can help make it less so for them.

7. When my students succeed, I succeed too. The best part of my career is at graduation and seeing the students receive their Mastery medallions.

8. Some days I work with small faes (ages 5 to 10). I love teaching them about faery history. That age is so inquisitive. I get excited being in the same room with them as their exuberance is contagious.

9. Another great thing about working with the younger ones is I get to see them again years later when they enter University. It's wonderful to grow up and learn along side them.

10. Teaching gives my life purpose.

Introducing Etharas and Letarri

*whisper* Come close, I have a secret. *looks around* I must be quick about this introduction before Etharas shows up. My name is Letarri Celter. I’m Rosyani’s younger sister – one of them anyway. I’m the middle child of five and I help my old University professor teach the new students about their powers.

*looks over her shoulder*

Anyway, I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m trying to avoid Etharas. He has feelings for me although I’m not sure how true or pure those feelings are. He is a good faen – strong and independent. However, he has this tendency to put his physical desires ahead of others. I do not care for that sort of thing. I wish to avoid him since he seems to think I have feelings for him too, or at least that he must protect me. From what, I don’t know.

*looks around again*

Well, I should probably go before he shows up. I promise to be more detailed for my next post. If you see Etharas, I wasn’t here.

*sneaks away*

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Excuse me, have you see Letarri anywhere? You haven’t? *sigh* I was hoping to talk with her about this blog post but I suppose she is not going to show up. She’s mad at me although I’m not exactly sure why.

I am Etharas Tryalis, Prince of Finnat. I do have an older sister but she is heir to the throne, so I do not see much of her as of late. Not that it matters, we were never that close anyway. So, I got thrust into this journey with the others although I don’t know why I’m needed. I suppose my telepathic abilities can be of use as we travel, yet so far it has only proven to anger me.

I would love to stay and talk with you all, but I must find Letarri. I must know what angered her so much to run away from me. I mean, why would she run away from me? Me! I am handsome, charming, and intelligent. What more could she want? *sigh* Perhaps one day she’ll see the truth.

*blows a kiss to the ladies and nods to the gentlemen*