Only Children

Are there any only children out there on the boards besides myself? If so, do you enjoy being an only, or have you wished for siblings?

Tell me about your experiences.

Sometimes I wish I was an only child...
(hehe... I'll have to say sorry to my brother for that)

I used to have dreams that I had an older brother. Needless to say, I have issues. lol. Not really, but I do think there are huge differences between only children and children with siblings...for example, we're not used to sharing, and we tend to be more introspective, and big on privacy, and I personally don't do well in chaotic, loud situations where I'm in a huge group of people...my instict is to get out. There is a misconception that only children are spoiled by virtue of them not having any siblings--this is not the case always; I wasn't spoiled at all as a kid, I mean I had what I needed and I had toys and things, but I definitely didn't get everything. I wasn't allowed to play video games, my parents thought it would turn my brain to mush. My parents were pretty strict when I was young...but that's going into a whole different subject. I think only children become self-sufficient earlier, because they have to be. However, I think parents of only children can be overprotective; at least mine were. I can't tell you how many times I heard "because you're our only one, and you're a girl, and if you die, that's it for us" in response to "why can't I go here or do that" or whatever. lol.

Damn. Looks like I'm the only only. lol.

i WAS an only child, only until my mom *ahem*. And then my step mother came along when i was 7 and i got a step sister and a step bro, along with my other two half brothers and half sister, twisted. Anyway, i had a lot of experiences, weird ones too and drama ones, depressing ones, happy ones, whatever. I dont wish that i was an only child again, ever.
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~my thoughts are winged

Hhhmmm. . . In my experience there's also a big difference between the way parents treat older siblings and the way the treat younger siblings. I'm an older sibling, and I'm very glad of that. My mother babied my brother to know end. Everyonce and a while I'd tell him that she yelled at me because I left him to take the late bus home from school alone. She said that he was probably out in front of the school crying because he didn't know what to do. My brother is a smart person, I really don't think he had any problems. Anyway, he couldn't believe she said that and confronted her on it. My mom was then mad at me for telling him she said that because she'll never hear the end of it. Oh well... I don't know that only children are more introspective. I pretty much always lived two lives, my life at home, and my life not at home, and tried not to mix them together. I never liked to rely on my parents if I could help it.

morgan....I wish you were a only child too.

Why? My brother's not that bad...
I could understand it a lot better if you had said that you wished you were an only child. Hehehe...

My daughter is an only child....I wanted to have at least 2 children...but, that is not the way it worked out...

She is very possibly spoiled as by the time I had her, I thought I would have NO children. I tried not to spoil her...so, I am not sure. I would say that in the way that matters to me...she is not spoiled. (She is not self-centered and all that jazz!)

I didn't realize until she was with other children how hard it was for her to share...so, I do know what you mean Phoenix. Day Care and preschool helped her to learn to share.

She is a very soft-hearted, giving person and is a very good friend to her friends. (devoted, loyal, keeps the secrets they tell her!)

She is very creative...but, I do not think she is an over-achiever. Although, she is very hard on herself if she fails at something.

Whenever I wanted to take her to places like Six Flags, I always had her bring a friend and paid the friend's way too. (It is no fun to do some of that stuff with just your Mom...I know that! LOL!) I know her friends cannot be a substitute for siblings...but, I always encouraged friendship. There are cousins, but the only ones close to her age are boys and they get along, but, never developed any real closeness.

I was 30 when se was born. I read a lot of books during my pregnancy...whether it helped, I don't know. But, I did my best to raise a healthy, happy, non-overprotected, emotionally stable only child!! (I figure I won't really know if I did a good job until she has children of her own and is really able to analyze it from another perspective...being the parent! LOL!)

Oh yes, Phoenix, she always wanted a brother or a sister! She still does! LOL! (It is too late now!...)

The funny thing is she always complains about her younger cousins and how they 'get into' her stuff!! I have pointed out many times that is how a younger sibling would be and she always replies that it would be different if it was her brother or sister...

Ah well...I had trouble getting pregnant...we cannot always choose.

I think you are an awesome individual Phoenix!

I introspect a lot and to be honest, I think everyone should! It helps to keep a person 'grounded' so to speak. It helps to prevent the 'self-centered, small-minded syndrome'!! LOL! (my own terminology!) What the heck, I am Luz's Mom...I will be your VERY much older Sis! LOL!

Hey, Phoenix Girl...where are you? Oh yeah...it's Friday night...nm, what was I thinking??

Phoenix! Did you see the above? Or not?