Is being an only child really so bad?

BubblyToes · July 2011

With The W turning 5 next week, and with all the IF struggle and subsequent crises resulting from it, I'm pretty content with the fact that he's going to be my one and only. I selfishly admit, I'm pretty used to sleeping all night, and it's nice that he's somewhat self sufficient. I really don't know if I want to start all over again.

That being said, part of me does feel bad that W may never have a sibling. But he has cousins, and lots of friends, and certainly doesn't want for anything.

I'm honestly sick and tired of focusing on an imaginary fetus that will probably never exist, and really don't want to even think about going down that road again. Ever.

He will be fine, right?

Temp374386125003286 · July 2011

Yes, he will be fine - more than fine. MH and I always said when trying for #2 that we will try until Kyle turns 5 and then that is it. Obviously I got pregnant, but if I didn't our plan was if Kyle didn't have a sibling by the time he was 5 he wouldn't have one. For us, it just was too very different stages - K and baby is not what we wanted. Does that make sense?

mrslinhart · July 2011

I was an only child until I was 10 years old (my parents had me young and waited until they could afford another) and I had a perfectly happy childhood. While I had lots of cousins and friends to play with, I grew up around a lot of adults - and I believe I matured a little faster because of this.

He will be fine

kittycarr · July 2011

He will be fine, you will be fine. Ty was an only child for 12yrs. When he was W's age, he wished he had siblings but once he got them, he said it's true what you say about being careful what you wish for. LOL!!

If he overall seems like a happy child and content with all the attention he doesn't have to share with another kid, not that he would mind, but you kwim, then just smother him with all you got girl!!

xoxoxo

Jodi&Joe · July 2011

You already know the answer sweetie! He is going to be fine. He is going to be BETTER than fine. Not having a sibling does not = neglect. In any way shape or form. You are not doing him a disservice by not providing him with a sibling. Society may have you think that -- but it's not the case. At all.

ETA: This coming from a woman that basically guilted her sister in to having a second child. Oh, if only we could rewind time......

p1nklemonade · July 2011

both my husband and i are only children. we're both fine. there's honestly never a time when i wish i had a sibling. ditto to the pp who said they were always around adults, and therefore pretty mature at a young age.

Sunflower777 · July 2011

I'm an only child and I had a fabulous childhood. Truly.

There have been times I've been bummed out by a friend's close relationship with a sibling. I would have liked to have one. (My dad did not want any more kids and my mom has told me, "I wanted to stay married to your dad more than I wanted a second child.") But if that's the only "load" I have to carry, I'd say I'm doing pretty good. : )

Marce921 · July 2011

He'll be fine! I'm an only child and love it. The only thing I remember sucking as a child was that I always wanted my mom to play games with me and of course she couldn't always do so. I didn't understand that at the time, but now I do (there's always laundry, cleaning, etc to be done). I love being my mom's one and only. We are VERY close. I know that one argument to have more than one is that when the parents grow older the responsibility doesn't just fall to one kid, but in my experience, more than one child means nothing when it comes to that.

marigolds · July 2011

I'm an only child and intentionally had only one child. I'm fine, my dd is fine, no worries.

mlm1128 · July 2011

DD is my only child. My ss is so much older that you can't even count it as a sibling. It's not like they play together or will have a tight bound, trust me. And she is already a lot more mature than some of the kids in our family because she does spend a lot of time around adults.

I know that I am very lucky to have close relationships with my brothers, but I know JUST as many families where siblings don't even speak. Just because they would be related doesn't mean they would like each other.

lizard76 · July 2011

Yep, he'll be fine. Shortly before I got pregnant with Marcus, we had decided to be one and done (we had a bit of an oops with BC). Anyhow, before making that decision, I talked to my dad about being an only child. He had grown up as an only child, but did have 3 cousins that he was close to and spent lots of time with. He said that never longed for a sibling because he didn't know any different.

Mrs Manners · July 2011

We are one and done too. I'm confident that our kiddo will be fine.

StephNJer · July 2011

He'll be totally fine! My husband and I are both only children. Yes, I won't lie, I do wonder sometimes what it would be like if I had siblings. But I'm ok with it, it's more curiosity than anything else. I had a great childhood and was super close with my parents. As a kid I remember going over to friend's houses and their younger brother or sister bugging us and thinking, "I am SO glad I don't have one of these!" lol

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