Do You Feel Sorry For Only-Children? Are You One?

[AB Editor]

And do you think you're better or worse for being sibling'd or unsibling'd?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25101501

[ummmm]

My daughter has two half sisters. My sons have two half brothers and a half sister.

Funnily enough I don't consider my daughter and sons to be half siblings. My thinking being that I grew them all and they've been brought up in the same household.

Their cousins are just like siblings as well.

[seadogg]

Like Zacs Master's comment about having several children to take the strain in one's old age though I guess it depends on the temperament of the offspring. We are fortunate enough to be fit and busy at 77 but one day...

[Zacs-Master]

I wonder what Ed thought, or even makes, of the answers. Must have had a good reason for posting the question (?).

[FredPuli43]

I am an only child. If you live in the country and go 8 miles to school every day, there are limited opportunities to keep friends of your own age, but I think it is a lonely life at best. And the only child has all the hopes and fears of any parent on it; there is nobody to share that.

[lady-janine]

i agree fred. it can be very lonely.

[Baldric]

Why would you feel sorry for an only child?

[ummmm]

Bednobs makes a very good point. How many cousins do they have??

[CokeTulip]

Yes I do. Neighbour my age growing up was an only child and adopted - we used to play with him all the time but he was left out abit at school too.(sad)

In a big family - parents have to keep an eye on all the kids and too busy & lose track so kids can get up to stuff without parents knowing. Thats fun.

When an only child all eyes are on you, I'd say + you'd have to account more for every move, its harder to get away with anything crazy (like running away from home)- no other sibling to blame and you then have to entertain yourself most of the time. Its alot. I definately think its more responsibility on them and expectation too. I know they can get spoilt, there is that but thats OK.

I'm the youngest of 4. I used to hang around slaughter houses, and try to open coffins in the church as a child, that sort of thing... had parish priest visit to have a word with me a few times when I was 8.

Sisters 11 yrs and 17 yrs older than me and brother a year. We have no contact at all.

Interaction with other kids has more advantages I'd say but only children do cope very well - as I think they are so used to relying on themselves - hopefully have more fun as adults.