Actor Romeo Tan on experiencing middle child syndrome while growing up

Actor Romeo Tan of Mediacorp recently discussed how his identity as the middle child influenced his relationships with his brothers. Being caught between an older sibling to emulate and a younger one to nurture is no walk in the park. For Tan, who is 41 years old, he portrayed two characters on the new Mediacorp series Brighter Days: Li Zhongcheng, a 1996 HDB nanny, and his son Li Yiwei in 2026.

In the series, Yiwei's life is deeply affected by the loss of his younger brother as a child, which also caused his mother to suffer from depression. Later, Yiwei struggles to forgive his brother for the harm he caused. Tan revealed that his real-life brotherly bond is much closer than many might imagine. He has an older brother six years his senior and a younger sibling five years his junior.

When growing up, Tan shared a bunk bed with his younger brother, fostering a particularly strong bond. He also looked up to his older brother as a role model. However, Tan admitted that being the middle child comes with its own set of challenges. He confessed to experiencing "middle child syndrome," feeling more rebellious and jealous of both his older and younger brother.

Tan recalled his mother encouraging him to learn from both: "Gor gor (older brother) is a good role model, you should learn from him," and "Your younger brother is the well-behaved one, you should learn from him too." But, Tan assures that his mother never praised him. He emphasized that they know their roles and respect each other, even when disagreements arise.

Tan also shared that he was a mischievous child who struggled academically, often causing his parents stress. Despite these issues, he improved himself during his National Service, becoming an officer and earning his parents' approval. Now, as an actor, his family believes he has turned out quite well.