As a middle child, I always found it hard to get proper attention. My sister entered the world when she was only 11 months old, so I had to learn to be independent, even before I learned to walk properly. When I was seven, I realized that most of my family almost ignored me. My brother was the star child, and my sister was always the one who needed the most care. So I was just there, trying to get everyone's attention, but often being forgotten.
Many family members would say I was independent and lonely because I liked it. I was a quick learner and enjoyed doing things on my own. But the reality was that my mother couldn't face three children alone. My father had to work long hours in the city, and she had two little girls and a little boy. She had to make decisions to focus more on the little ones because they needed more care and on the older one because he needed a good education. So it wasn't that I liked it. I had no choice.
Therefore, to get attention, I started throwing tantrums. At family gatherings, social events, or whenever someone was at home, I would cry when I wanted something. I thought that if my voice was louder and made others understand that I needed them, they would pay attention to me.