Positive stories..
Wanting positive stories from "only" children.
My child will be an only child, not by choice. I'm wanting positive stories from only children or parents of only children.
Thankyou
Positive stories of being an only child
Positive stories of being an only child
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt
5 Replies
My 21 year old son is an only child. By choice due to me carrying unfair genes.
In my sons case it's turned out great. Wouldn't have it any other way now. He is caring, generous, etc. none of the stereo-typical only child things. Definitely not lonely.
One of my best friends is also an only child. She is one of the most popular people I've ever met, definitely not lonely. I have to book her in months in advance.
Having siblings is no guarantee of support or companionship. My mum is one of 6, she might as well be an only child, she does all the caring/decision making for her elderly mother, and had to pester the others to visit there mum. As the granddaughter I have been far more involved in my grandmothers welfare.
I just don't buy into the singletons are lonely. Sure if you don't allow play dates or extra-curricular activities it might get that way, but there is nothing wrong with a child having some time to entertain themselves, in fact it's great for them, teaches them independence, confidence and how to amuse thenselves.
I totally don't think children NEED siblings. As long as they have lots of interactions with children their age they will do just fine! While I am extremely close to my brother and would classify him as my best friend in the world, if he was never born I wouldn't miss him because I'd have no idea what I was missing out on! In the same way, how many siblings have you heard of that HaTE each other, even into adulthood. No one ever went to therapy over the brother or sister that never existed. And you know what, even with the relationship I share with my brother, if I had not of fallen pregnant accidentally, my oldest son would have been an only child too and I would have been completely at peace with it :) (Also due to unfair genes).
My best friend is an only child. He is the most successful person I know! And he is far from lonely.
I'm not an only child but I think my story will help. I have 1 sibling (younger) and I wish more than anything that I had been an only child. I did not benifit in any way by having a sibling. I have no relationship with my sibling not to mention a very resentful relationship with my mother because she favours my sibling.
My daughter is an only child. She has just turned 11 and, as a single mother with no prospects on the horizon, is likely to stay that way. Growing up in a big family, I often feel bad that she is my only. My siblings are also my friends and we hang out heaps, not just for special occasions. I feel bad that she likely won't get to experience this. That said, I have been able to give her so many opportunities that I couldn't do with more than one child. Travel and extracurricular activities (dance, music theatre, swimming etc). She has just been accepted into a fantastic high school for next year which is an opportunity she might not have gotten otherwise. She sees her cousins often and has a couple of close friends that she sees on a regular basis for sleepovers and after school play dates, so she is definitely not missing out socially. Added to that, we have a pretty amazing relationship and I'm sure a lot of that is because it is so often just her and I. Its not what I planned when I was younger but I wouldn't change a thing and after 11 years, I don't know that I actually want any more children now.