After I was born, life got busier and busier for my parents, and having another child simply did not fit into their schedules. Ever since I was little, I noticed that I was practically the only person in my friend group who didn’t have siblings. Whenever my friends would come over, instead of playing common games like dress up, hide and go seek or four square, I always wanted to play “house.” This was my favorite game, where my friends would act as my family members. Deep down, I knew that I would never be able to relate to the special bond between real siblings that most of my friends had in their homes, but I at least wanted to try and live their lives, even if it was only during our playdate. As I got older though, I realized that siblings did seem like an ideal life for me. When it came down to my friends acting like my family members, I hated how they treated me with constant sassiness and selfishness. I loved my friends, but not as my siblings. My parents didn’t realize it at the time, but they gave me a pretty sweet life by making me an only child.
One of the biggest advantages of being an only child is not having to share anything. Sharing is challenging for all children—and siblings are no exception. The constant debate over clothes, toys, food and even the remote, is a situation I have never had to face. No matter how many siblings a family has, or what the gender of the children are, there is always something to fight about. Siblings argue over things that are pointless and unreasonable. Parents are then forced to intervene and implement discipline. By having just one child, these constant debates and challenges do not occur.
Another advantage of being an only child is getting one-on-one attention from my parents. Having only one child is much easier on parents and allows them to be more attuned to the emotional needs of the single child. Attention can be more directly focused, saving for college is easier and it’s much easier to afford a smaller home. As an only child, I do not have to worry about being outshined or pushed to the side by another sibling. I also get undivided love and attention from my parents which helps boost my confidence and makes me feel special.
“My favorite thing about being an only child is the easy decisions which me and my family can make together,” junior Ava Duke said. “I do not have to worry about constant fighting in my family because the decisions only come down to me and my parents. It is also great, because my parents give me as much space as I ask for, and they respect me when I ask to be alone. If I had a sibling, none of these scenarios would be possible.”
Personal space is one of the main reasons why I like being an only child. As an only child, I am able to move as freely as I choose without having to worry about the constant nagging or bother of a sibling. Since only children are used to spending a lot of time alone, we find that we don’t have any problem with being in our own company. Often times, only children need to retreat to their own company to recharge or to be back in their own safe space. After long and tiring days at school, I need my own time when I get home to relax, work on homework and watch television. This is something I would have trouble doing if I had siblings, due to the extra ruckus and noise in the house.
Although some may argue that only children are constantly “lonely,” this is not the case. Only children have constant support from not only their parents but also their best friends. My best friends are who I cherish the most. The tight knit-bonds from people that really know or understand me, those are the people I wish to have in my life forever. I rely on my friends and parents to be there for me when I need them, and they always are.
Being an only child enhances creativity and feeds independence. The stigma which is attached to only children, lowers the self esteem of an individual and causes them to feel like an outcast. Only children are at an advantage because they do not have to share with another sibling, they get constant attention from their parents and they receive all the personal space necessary.
