no.1mama`s poll Show results | Hide results

melliewald (697.2 days ago)
I am on only child and don`t feel cheated in any way because of it. Sometimes I get jealous of bigger families, but there truly are pros and cons. I get a lot of help and attention from my parents and they just wouldn`t have the capacity to do this for more than one child. I have friends who are constantly comparing what their parents do for them vs what they do for their siblings. I always thought it would be terrible going through the death or old age of a parent w/o siblings to help, but my husband`s father is currently in hospice and he is getting frustrated w/his siblings over disagreements in the way everyone wants to handle this sad situation differently. My mom has 3 sisters and 1 brother and 2 of her sisters do nothing for my 93 year old grandma and it causes resentment w/the other siblings. It`s just so hard to tell for each family...although I definitely wanted the experience of raising mulitple children, I think my parents gave me a great only-child upbringing. I`ve always been extroverted, lots of friends and cousins I grew up with...and I think I always related to adults very easily compared w/friends who weren`t only children. My folks and I had a ton of fun together during my childhood and we continue to do a lot together today.

domsmom2009 (698.7 days ago)
I didn`t mind being an only child at times but when my parents split up, I really wished I had someone to talk to who could relate. It has pros and cons just like having siblings. My friend said that she didn`t like having a sister cuz she kept being compared to her all the time (she had better grads and her parents kept putting pressure on her).I don`t think there`s anything wrong with only having 1 child. it`s a personal choice. do whats best for you and SO :) good luck :)

RNMom2010 (698.8 days ago)
I am an only child and have always loved it! I had a great imagination as a child and had no problem entertaining myself. My mom and I would go do so many fun things, shopping, hiking, trips to the zoo. I do not feel like I missed out on anything not having any siblings. My husband and I always thought we only wanted one child. But now that I have had my son (who is 5wks old) I am really thinking about maybe having another in a few years. We are not 100% if we want another, but are going to keep the option open and see how we feel in the future. There is nothing wrong with only desiring one child, and don`t let anyone tell you that `Oh you just HAVE to have more than one`. It get`s so irritating to hear! Plan your family the way you want it! :-)

tto (698.8 days ago)
My mother hated being an only child. She was so lonely growing up and as an adult. She still doesn`t really have friends. She has said the worst part was when her parents were aging and she was the only one to take care of them. She was the only one who had to make choices for them with no support emotional or otherwise. My grandfather died from old age really, but then my grandmother started to get dementia. She was dealing with a lot of stress from her own children and it was a horrible time in her life. She has always said if she had a brother or sister to help, it would`ve been a lot better. She has always resented her parents for not having another child. No one wants to think about this, but what if something happens to your child? Will you be ok with no children and no grandchildren? That happened to an aquaintance of mine. It`s hard to think about, but something you have to consider. If you don`t want to be pregnant, why not adopt an older child?

adalynnsmommy(PINK) (699 days ago)
Myself, 2 cousins and my best friend are all only children. I would have loved a sibling, but it`s not the worse thing in the world. Out of the four of us, my one cousin and I longed for a sibling and the other two loved being only children. Although I did have a brother when I was young who passed away and both of us grew up watching our parents go through various treatments trying for more children is likely the cause of the difference of opinion.

lovelee (699 days ago)
I hated being an only child and so did my BD. Noone to play with, no one to fight with, no one to compete against and no one to share things with. And now that I`m an adult I have no neices or nephews, no sibling to reminisce with and my children dont have aunts, uncles or cousins. I have four boys now and love the bond they have and the joy they bring to each other. All this being said, I believe it was the right thing for my mother to only have me and if it is right for your family then that is your choice.

charliebaby (699 days ago)
Personally I want at least one more child but there is every chance my son will be an only child as I am 33 and single and very satisfied with my single status, so when I hear couples choose to only have one child, I take comfort in that there are families who want only one child, it makes that yearning for another child a little easier. I certainly don`t feel jealous when people have subsequent children and if I was in a situation where I could have another, there`s no way I would even entertain the thought of trying for another for at least another year or two, but it does make it a little easier to hear people say they feel satisfied with just one child... I think back to children of my generation, I only knew two people who didn`t have any siblings but in this day and age, the family structure is so diverse, it`s much more common for families to have only one child.



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