Theres many things I wished for as a child, but the biggest want was for a brother/sister, and even now at the rip old age of 23 thats still the same.... do you feel you'd be the same person you are now if you had a bro/sister? or are you content to be one of a kind?
2006-10-05 02:56:17 · 12 answers · asked by Sadbh 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I am the father of an only child and my daughter feels the same.
Circumstances today are about choice but it was different when she was born. We waited seven years for the war to finish before we found a flat after being demobbed in 1947.
She was not even one year old when I was called up again to go to Korea. It was delayed by the company I was working for after they demanded it so.
It was a futher five years before I was in the clear again.
My wife lost two out of three brothers in the war and the third left the country so I didn't want to leave behind more dependants to face the future alone.
Yes it was a bad decision when time proved it so, but given the reverse was true it would not have been.
A women with one child stands a chance to remarry, and these were the days when there was no State allowances or National Health.
It is something I have to live with as does my daughter and I wished it were otherwise, but it isn't.
I have written all this in a book for her so she will understand the reason one day. A 1300 page biography.
Meanwhile when her thoughts turn in this direction she will think it was my choice that left her like this.
It was.
2006-10-05 03:34:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an only child fast approaching 30, but I still feel that I have missed out and do miss out on a lot being an only child. I see my parents and my friends that have close relationships with their siblings and I have to say I sometimes get really jealous of seeing that kind of relationship and bond between two people knowing I can never experience it.
That said, my parents were great when I was growing up. I was always allowed to have friends over, and I was encouraged to take part in after school activities so it was never like I was wanting for company. Family holidays would often involve going away with close family friends so I had other children to pay with. Also, although i was certainly well off compared to some friends, I was in no way spoilt like many only children I have met (no means no, and "I want" doesn't get).
I by no means had an unhappy childhood and I'm happy in my life now with a circle of close friends, but as I said at the start, I do feel that I have missed something in my life by not having a brother or sister. I don't know how different I would have been if I had a sibling. I hope not too different to the person that I have grown up to become. It was not my parents choice to only have one child so these are feelings that I have never shared with them.
2006-10-05 03:12:24 · answer #2 · answered by Jooles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
But i'm not an only child!!
I've got a brother and a sister and I felt I really missed out by not being an only child!
And at the ripe old age of 37 I sometimes still feel that way!!
My son is an only child and I do think that he would have benefitted from siblings, but on the other hand just having one means I could afford to do more interesting things with him so he has experienced much better holidays and day trips than I ever did!!
2006-10-05 03:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by libbyft 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was an only child as well and always though that I had missed out not having a brother or sister, however I have recently moved in with my new girlfriend and she has 5 children between 26 - 13 and I have to say that they all seem to compete with each other for everything, they all from time to time feel that they were the one that was left out or something or other is not fair or its there turn for something not one of the others........ so all in all I am now glad that I was the only child and got all of the attention with out having to fight or prove something....... also I've noticed that honesty seems to be a problem.......... when you are on your own if you have done something wrong you just have to own up...... however in a larger family you just say it wasn't me because it could always have been one of the others!
2006-10-05 03:12:11 · answer #4 · answered by Robert B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a strange situation. I am the youngest of 4 girls, but my 3 older sisters are 22, 21 and 19 years older than I am (I was planned! LOL)
So they were all out of the house before I was born. The oldest was married and pregnant at the same time my mother was with me. So I have a niece who is 5 months younger than I am. WE are like sisters. Don't get me wrong I love my sisters, but they are more like moms to me.
I think life would have been completely different if I had a brother/sister to grow up with. Yeah, I wish I had. But they all have there pros and cons. I got all the attention (as most only children do) but there wasn't anyone there to share joys and pains with. You know? And no one to blame the broken stuff on either!
2006-10-05 03:08:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was an only child until I was 14. Then Mum had two girls in two years! It was a bit of a shock to the system at that age but I was very happy to have them. I didn't feel as though I missed out as a singleton - I love my own company and can amuse myself for hours, given the chance. However I do feel that I missed out on the rough and tumble of family life, I suppose I'm a bit precious at times and I have no argument skills at all. But you can't turn the clock back so just look forward to all that life has to offer you, with a positive attitude.
2006-10-05 03:05:17 · answer #6 · answered by Roxy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, sometimes I also wonder what would be like if I had some sister or brother, I sometimes envy my friends who have siblings they can play with and talk to. Sometimes I feel lucky, sometimes not. I don't think I'd be the same person if I had a brother/sister.
2006-10-05 03:26:49 · answer #7 · answered by Dawn Treader 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
French call only children 'un enfant unique'.
I'm an only child. I didn't have a brother or sister to play with, but then I didn't have one to argue with. I got all my parents love and attetion, more than i would have got if I was part of a set.
I'm sure I'd be different if I'd had a brother, but who knows how?
2006-10-05 03:07:33 · answer #8 · answered by keirboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i was young i wanted a brother or sister to beat up he he but as i have grown up i realise i wouldnt have got everything i did if i had a sibling and realise i am lucky for the type of upbrnging i had. But even now i wish i had a sister to stick by me through thick and thin isee my friend and her sis and they are best friends thats what i would like.
2006-10-05 03:07:58 · answer #9 · answered by bunnybabe852000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks for your question - my husband and I are trying for a child and wondering whether to have just one. Your question has highlighted the lonliness that an only child can experience.
I was the youngest of 6 kids and was never lonley - I was lucky.
2006-10-05 03:28:37 · answer #10 · answered by quay_grl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋