Of course, I loved being an only child. This sibling society inundates parents to have more than one child. Multichild families are glorified in this society while one child families are derided. There is a strong prejudice and animus against only children.
Well, there is NOTHING wrong with being an only child. Recent studies, especially the one from Susan Newman, Ph.D. which states that only children are happier and have more self-esteem than children growing up in multichild families. Onlies do not have to compete with siblings for parental attention. They have more financial, emotional, and psychological resources from their parents than children growing up in multichild, especially large families.
Only children will never have to worry about favoritism because they will always be the favorite no matter what. Only children will never be harassed and/or bullied by their siblings. How lucky us onlies are indeed. We are not slated into rigid roles like children in multichild families are i.e. "the smart one", "the pretty one", "the dumb one," " the athletic one", and/or "the beautiful/handsome one".
Only children are always assured that their parents will be there for them. As an only child, I knew that my parents will always be in my corner and supportive. My parents were always present at my activities. Contrast this to parents who have more than one child, one child always have to suffer. How sad!
Only childen are also more likely to receive tertiary education and beyond because their parents have the financial means to do so. I also want to add that only children have the choice to attend better schools for the same reason- finances. Children from multichild families often must attend public schools and many do not attend college because their parents can ill afford to send more than one child to college. Guess what folks- it is usually the youngest child in multichild families, especially in medium large to very large families, who attend college and beyond.
Only children also can afford to travel to places and participate in cultural and intellectual activities that children from multichild families can only dream about! In other words, only children have all the advantages that children from multichild families do not!
Probably, that is why they hate us onlies. We onlies have a children that is calm and peaceful. We are not constantly interrupted by the constant going ons of siblings. We can read and indulge in our hobbies in peace. We have the most freedom of all the birth orders.
We are also the most imaginative and creative. Being an only child was a blast. I learned to entertain myself. I can be alone for periods at a time without being lonely. Solitude is not a stranger to me as it is for people who grew up with siblings. I am also not clingy and crowd hungry-always needing people to fill my "void".
Only children are beautiful and wonderful people. It is the sibling culture who dictate otherwise. Well, the population of onlies is gradually rising. Furthermore, having siblings are not everything. Recent studies have indicated that there is a darker side to having siblings such as teasing and abuse which often leaves emotional scars.
Only children have a rich life without siblings- there are parents, friends, and other associates. The idea of having siblings to fulfill a child's life is so atavistic and antediluvian. There are siblings who are not close to and actually hate each other while there are enduring and warm friendships. Remember, familiarity often breeds comtempt i.e. siblings often equal drama. Who needs the histrionic drama of the sibling relationship when there are more intellectual things to do! Give me the life of an only child any day! A milnillion amens!
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