When it comes to traveling in groups, I know a thing or two. Growing up, I went on yearly family trips with a minimum of 10 people. Have you ever tried hauling 13 people ages 12 to 79 through the City of Light? Or ten people across Italy? Another baker’s dozen around Taipei? Yep, it’s as chaotic as it sounds. I must hand it to my mother, who meticulously planned every excursion down to the hour—oldest child that she is. It makes sense that the oldest child would be the holiday-planning extraordinaire. Who’s least likely to lose the passports? They are. Who’s passing around the itinerary built in a custom spreadsheet? The oldest. Who has hand sanitizer, water, snacks and reservations for the Louvre because they knew the walk-up line would be six hours long? Yup, the firstborn. However, I’m here to make a case, much as I love oldest children (I’m one myself) that they might not *actually* be the sibling you always want to travel with. In fact, if you’re planning a vacation, my money is actually on the middle child.
Planning a Vacation? This Is the Sibling You Always Want to Travel With
surprised?
The middle child has a reputation: Peacekeeper, conflict mitigator, easy going, adaptable, forgotten. (Only slightly kidding on the last one, but my family did, indeed, one day get on the freeway before we noticed my middle brother was *not* in the car with us.) Sure, they sound pleasant, but middleborns don’t necessarily bill themselves as take-charge material, if you know what I mean. They won’t be assertive and beat you down with the spreadsheet. Hell, they might not even have a plan. But honestly, this is their superpower.
As I’ve previously reported, middle children are known for being patient and willing to compromise. These traits, combined with being easy going conflict mitigators, make them literal travel companion gold. These people know how to read a room, and they’ll adapt as the situation requires. If no one’s planning, they’ll make the itinerary (but on Google Docs—true story). If the spreadsheet’s already been planned (and is read-only), then they’ll make sure everyone stays on schedule while incorporating some impromptu stops along the way. Need a tiebreaker because the group can’t decide where to stop for a snack? The middle child can decide without ruffling any feathers. While they’re perfectly capable of stepping up to the plate, they don’t *need* to…and they’re perfectly game to be adventurous, so long as a youngest sibling is leading the way.
Time to call up those middleborn friends. Bon voyage!
