? for only children or parents of only children

[cinmell]

If you are an only child, do you wish you had siblings? If you are a parent of an only child, do they enjoy being the only one or do they say they wish they had a brother or sister?

 

[flrose]

I have a DS 12 who is an only child. When he was younger (maybe 3-4) someone asked him if he wanted a brother or sister and he very adamantly told them no. A few years later 6 or 7 he asked about a sibling but, since that time he has never mentioned it. I think right now he is enjoying being an only spoiled child.

 

[piratesmate]

I don't quite qualify here . . . . I have two children 10 years apart. DS always wished he had siblings. He was quite pleased when our "surprise" came along.

 

[cats mom]

I grew up an only child and I did always wish for a sibling. I also realize I was afforded many opportunities as an only child that probably would not have been available to me had family resources been divided among more children. (thinking specifically of several trips to Europe in my high school years)

I have a child who I swear SHOULD have been an only child, I think she would have been much happier as such. But, she has three siblings to deal with - not an easy task for her!

 

[KLAIT]

I am a 36yo only child. I never remember wishing that I had siblings until lately....Now I think about when my parents are gone that I will be the only one to go through stuff and make sure things are taken care of.

When I was a kid, my parents always let me take a friend with me anytime I wanted where ever I wanted.....It was fun.

Now I only have one child and he has asked about a brother or sister (he is 5). He sees a lot of babies in daycare and he wonders why he doesn't have one...there are 2 other children the same age who have babies in the same daycare. I am not sure if he wants one or not...he just asks about it...he does I know love being a spolied only child.

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by cinmell
If you are an only child, do you wish you had siblings? If you are a parent of an only child, do they enjoy being the only one or do they say they wish they had a brother or sister?

Brittany is 5 today. No, she never asks for siblings. I've asked her a couple times (not that it's ever going to happen) if she'd like a sib. She always says: "no, I like being the only one."

Are you thinking about having an "only"?

 

[LindaR]

DD is 15 now. When she was younger (3-6) she would occasionally wish for a brother or sister to play with and take care of. When she would go over to a friend's house, she would usually spend more time with the baby brother or sister than the friend! Like I said, that was when she was younger..........as she got older she prefers the "lack of competition".

I am a single mom and we are extremely close and devoted to each other. She realizes the advantages she's had from being an only child. I also raised her to appreciate the blessings in her life and not dwell on the negatives.

 

[KristiKelly]

My Dad is an only child, now that my Grandparents (his parents) are getting older he has said that he wishes he had someone to help make alot of the "decisions", G'mother has Alzheimers & G'father has mini strokes quite frequently. DH & I try to help as much as possible, but with 2 kids, it's sometimes hard. My mom was the youngest of 9, her mother died when my mom was 18 & her father a few years later. My mom & her brothers & sisters are very close and get together for all holidays, b'days... I always said I wanted 3 for that reason, but looks like 2 will be my number.

 

[MAC3]

Great question!

I have a DD11(almost 12) and when she was younger like 6-10 she always said she wanted a sibling (hey we tried). Now I don't think she minds too much. It bothers me though because I think of when my husband & I are gone, but she will have her own family by then(maybe).

We always have sleepovers & bring her friends(cousins) with us when we go somewhere. It's nice to know that there are others that don't mind it too much! She also realizes that she is very fortunate because we only have 1.

Hey I have 4 brothers and never see them!

 

[Sandy V.]

I'm an only child who's 44 now, and yes, I wish I had a sibling. My situation was complicated by the fact that my mother suffered from manic-depression (they call it bipolar now) for most of her life, and my father died in a car accident when I was 9. Through certain turns of events, I actually turned out happy and relatively well adjusted.

As I get older, though, I really wish that I had "family" to relate to and share things with. My mom passed away when I was 30, so I'm the last one. My husband's family is wonderful to me, and I really appreciate that.

I'm happily married, and I have 2 kids. I always knew that I wanted more than one given what I felt I missed out on when I grew up.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS who will be 11 in April, has always wanted a younger brother. He specifically DOES NOT want a sister. LOL!

 

[legs22]

My college age niece is an only child. When I asked her about it she said she loved being an only child.
My dd6 is an only child. She'll occasionally mention a brother or sister but no great longings. My sister's kids are a year younger and a year older than dd6 so they are like a substitute brother/sister to her. One of the reasons why I want to move back home.
I'm glad I have just one, especially as a single parent. I can take her to see ballets, broadway shows, concerts, Disney Princesses on Ice, Disney World etc. I couldn't do that if I had more than one.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Pete is 7 and one time he said he wanted an older brother (how in the heck can I do that? ), but has always maintained that he wants no brothers or sisters.

 

[tar heel]

It was fine when I was a child. I had cousins nearby and my mother's best friend's child, so I was never lonely. I hate being an adult only child, though, because it is so much responsibility, and my parents are both fairly healthy. I dread the time when one is ill and there's no one to share responsiblities and make decisions with. I am also very envious at the close sibling relationships a lot of my friends take for granted.

 

[2bemarried]

Originally posted by KLAIT
I am a 36yo only child. I never remember wishing that I had siblings until lately....Now I think about when my parents are gone that I will be the only one to go through stuff and make sure things are taken care of.

Exactly what I was going to say. I LOVED being an only child. I was lonely at times, but for the most part I was spoiled.

However...the last 2 years have taught me that being an only child isn't easy when the parents are sick. My mom had a mental breakdown and not having a sibling who understood exactly what I was going through hurt. Couldn't talk to my dad b/c he has his own views that I disagree with. Knowing what I know now...if my husband and I have children, we'll most likely have two of them.

 

[Lewski709]

A different prospective....my dad is an only child, I have no aunts or uncles or counsins from his side. I have a brother that I haven't talked to (and won't ever again) for 10yrs, so my kids have no aunts or uncles or cousins. All they have is what DH's side has. I wish my parents had more and that is one reason I decided to have more than one. If your child is adament about your family not having more, that's not a reason to stop, in my book. Kids adjust to everything well and you will never regret having more, but you might regret not.

 

[elgerber]

I am a 34 year old only child. I don't remember ever wishing I had a sibling. I had a step sister for awhile. Sometimes I liked her, sometimes she bugged the heck out of me. I never wanted her around full time.

Erika

 

[MickeysMommy]

I am an only child and I think the only time I really wanted a sibling was when I was younger for someone to play with if none of my friends were around. I am very thankful that I am an only child as I have a wonderful relationship with my parents that I'm not sure I would've had had I had siblings. That being said, it definitely is/was difficult being an only when my dad was sick and I was the only one (besides my mom of course) and everything fell to me. But, if I ever have children I only want one. I'm an "only" and I turned out ok


Edited to add that I am an only child because my mother couldn't have any more...I was a late in life baby

 

[4greatboys]

Im an only and I ALWAYS wanted a brother or a sister. By the time I was 35 I had lost my mom and dad so I dont have any of "my" family left. I have my family dh and 4 boys which Im very thankful for but still on holidays and things like its kind of sad to visit dh's family knowing there wont be a visit to my side. OTH one of my best friends has 1 sister and the girl is a total flake and they really have nothing in common. They are not close, so I guess if even if you have a brother or sis doesnt mean that you will have a close relationship.
Im sure being an only is the reason I wanted to have such a big family because its what I always wanted growing up, and still now.

Originally posted by cats mom
I have a child who I swear SHOULD have been an only child, I think she would have been much happier as such. But, she has three siblings to deal with - not an easy task for her!

I have one of those also. Ds #2 should have been an only but that was not the luck of the draw for him. I have always thought that and he got (and still gets) plenty of attn since Ds #3 & #4 were not born until he was 10 years old.

 

[coliebird]

Thank you so much for posting this. My daughter is going to be 2 in July and I have been debating with myself about having another one. While I would love another one, financially it will be hard and I won't be able to give as much to two as I can to my daughter, but I really don't think I want her to be an only child. I am very close to both my sister and brother and would love for her to have relationships like that. It is nice to read the views of only children.