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the only child expression -dont like it

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By Sat 17-Oct-09 19:38:53 Add message | Report | Contact poster

Read on another thread here about the fact that it seems only to be in UK USA that children in 'one child families' are labelled an 'only child'.
I sometimes find myself, when people say, 'is he your only child' trying to justify myself only having one child, by saying ' Yes, I started late.. too old to have another etc etc.' Apparently, in other countries the 'only child' label doesnt exist. Similar to the fact that, in France, there is no word for 'bullying' as it is not something that they experience over there (heard that on Radio 4 today - explained by a French woman).
The more I think about it, the more I feel that the expression 'only child' has negative connotations about it - and I feel it should be banned!! JMO.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 21-Oct-09 11:53:57

Me - My daughter just passed Grade 8 harp.

Dismissive - Well I suppose that, with nobody to play with, all those hours of solitary practice were always bound to pay off.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 21-Oct-09 10:27:00

ha ha, I am enjoying these!

Me - My clever daughter just wrote her name for the first time all by herself!
Prat - Yes. Yes, she has to, doesn't she? <sympathetic look>

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 21-Oct-09 10:11:04

So glad you're still able to play contribute to this discussion, smallscreamcap. Hi, Daisy.

Me: My daughter has just been abducted by aliens, who beamed her aboard their spaceship.

Slappable: Naturally. If she had had a sibling and hadn't been such a weird deviation from the socially-expected norm, the aliens wouldn't have been interested in adding her to their collection of Earth life forms.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 21-Oct-09 09:53:01

do no good

sorry, bfing dc2 (who naturally is making everything better in our hitherto sad little lives) (except typing)

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 21-Oct-09 09:51:43

hee hee, good ones

Me: OMG I am so proud, my daughter has just won the Nobel Peace Prize!!!!

Twit: Yes, I'm glad something nice has come out of all those lonely years in her bedroom reading books. It'll do no god though- advice about peace is a bit rich coming from those who have never had to rub along with others.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 20-Oct-09 23:43:12

Can I play too?

DD - My son has just fallen off the branch of a tree

Slappable - of course he has, he didn't have a sibling to act as a counterweight grin

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 20-Oct-09 17:42:32

Aha! My macabre one was going to be:

Me (weeping) - My 14 year old daughter was just knocked down by a car and has a broken leg

Slappable (smug) - Of course she was. She's always had you to hold her hand and isn't used to crossing the road on her own, is she?

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 20-Oct-09 15:07:55

That sounds like fun, can I join in?

Me - My daughter has just been struck by lightning

(Slappable) - Of course she was, lightning is attracted to a lone object, if you'd had more children you could have prevented this.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 20-Oct-09 14:57:11

Hmm, well it is a type that makes its presence felt and is never backward about coming forward with its views! I'm now amusing myself by imagining other scenarios:

MBDK: My child knocked herself unconscious playing hockey today

(Sad): Well, she's never had anyone to play sports with, has she?

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 20-Oct-09 14:38:02

Thank you MadBad and sorry that you clearly recognise the type!

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the only child expression -dont like it