Q. The middle child of our three children seems to be developing and exhibiting a variety of behavioral problems. I'm wondering if he is showing "the middle child syndrome" that I've heard bandied about. Do you know of any resources on this topic?

A.  Middle children can exhibit some exceptional giftedness as well as some woundedness. I have found Kevin Leman's books helpful (e.g., The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are; My Middle Child, There's No One Like You). Another book you might enjoy is The Secret Power of Middle Children: How Middleborns Can Harness Their Unexpected and Remarkable Abilities, by Catherine Salmon Ph.D. and Katrin Schumann.