What is your honest view about only children??

[Charley1988]

My view is that being an only child can POTENTIALLY be a great experience and that all the well known stereotypes of only children are a complete MYTH. The only POTENTIAL downside in my opinion is that an only child may SOMETIMES be more prone to a more rigid upbringing than someone with siblings - but please note I've put the most important words in this sentence in block capitals....

have had issues which seem to stem from them being an only child.

It is FAR more likely to stem from the parenting they had whilst a child, rather than the fact they didn't have a sibling.

I was bought up in a dysfunctional family as an only child with alot of extended family around us.

My childhood was professional, middle class but strange, dysfunctional and disturbing. I wouldn't recommend it.

It wouldnt have been any different if I had grown up with siblings, accept for not feeling lonely it really depends on the household stability as to what difference it makes

Absolutely agree it depends on the only child's parenting. I would like to think I'd provided my 'only' with better skills (in many areas) that either my wellmeaning grandparents did, or or my mother did with me.

Is nothing SACROSANCT? The number of children a person, or couple has, is their business, and theirs alone.

Its not always a choice. Why does anyone else need an opinion on it?

Haha. Have you ever dated one? Most people who’ve dated one I know irl (& I’ve seen this on mumsnet too) have had issues which seem to stem from them being an only child

Issues like what?

So in addition to being selfish, weird, asocial, lonely, spoilt and sad, my DD is also going to be undateable.

The amount of utter shit spouted on this thread, by supposedly intelligent people, is breathtaking.

Only child here. I tend to gravitate to other onlies and to spot them in the proverbial crowded room (secret hand signals?). As a mature only, it can be tough when caring for elderly parents is down to one, but I know plenty of folk with sibs’ who are in the same boat.

Sensible parents raise sensible children.

My DD is an only child by choice. As soon as she was born I knew we were done. No urge to have anymore, despite constant judgments and advice from family and random strangers!
DP and I both have brothers and always planned on a large family. DB and I are the best of friends, and BIL is great. But nothing is missing in my family of 3.
All the young siblings we know just fight all the time, their parents are exhausted, and the cost of children is astronomical. I have no idea why parents of large families want to do that to yourselves!

'Haha. Have you ever dated one? Most people who’ve dated one I know irl (& I’ve seen this on mumsnet too) have had issues which seem to stem from them being an only child'

What a load of absolute shite

There's some serious tosh on here. Blimey some people are so narrow minded.

And really do lack any form of self awareness

Incredible

Are you deliberately starting stupid threads @Charley1988. Why don’t you go and read a book or watch telly.

Haha. Have you ever dated one? Most people who’ve dated one I know irl (& I’ve seen this on mumsnet too) have had issues which seem to stem from them being an only child.

Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve dated many people with siblings and some of them were far from hang-up free.

I'd get some help Op

My dad was an only child and has said he would have love siblings. It was really hard on him when his mum died and he had no sibling support.

They said I know a few people that have siblings they don’t get on with so having one doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a friend for life lol

Sad? Really, I am confused that this is even thought to be acceptable in 2019 to express prejudicial beliefs against single child families where the parents deliberately make the choice to have one child.

And why is any parent making another feel like crap and expose information they might find painful to justify having one child if they wanted more? Why put someone in the position of having to say ‘I tried for more but it did not happen’ because you have a misguided belief that your way is the only best option.

I think an only child will be just as happy as one from a larger family if they've got good parents. Why wouldn't they be?

I'm sure there are a few Mumsnetters quite upset by this thread. Do people not think before they start topics or post?

As a teacher of secondary aged children I could often tell an only child. They were often more sensible, well behaved and mature which may have come form living with only adults. Also often smarter as parents had time to explain things to the. Of course they can become spoiled if over indulged.

My mum is an only child and I did ask her once if she minded. She said it was a bit lonely sometimes growing up but she had cousins etc. Also, remember this was before nurseries etc and things were different then. Only children mix at a much younger age now. She also said she was fine when her parents died as she had her own family to help her through it. I do think it's important to have the number of children you can cope with. I also do think some people romanticize big families. My dad was one of five and was only close to one of them. The others lived a distance away and it really was only weddings and funerals.

Only children do not share inheritances with siblings which makes them a good prospect if you are Jane Austen.

As my parents age, and their friends die I can see a big advantage to NOT being an only child: the burden is shared, and so will be the grief. That’s about it though.

Why is the only children subject like we are discussing some exotic species ? People are people whether we have siblings or not. I'm an only child and I find the stereotyping tiresome. Surely the outcome of children is more down to your upbringing and environment ? I find the idea that only children make bad partners another sweeping generalisation. Surely it's possible to be an arse with or without siblings so just a very easy tag

I don’t have any opinions about only children tbh.

I do have opinions about massive families as I wonder how they manage, I feel like I’m stretched thin across three children let alone 5+!

I know plenty of lovely and well-adjusted only children, so no worries about happiness or character. To me it seems that parents' illness or death falls harder on only children than those with siblings though.

Haha. Have you ever dated one? Most people who’ve dated one I know irl (& I’ve seen this on mumsnet too) have had issues which seem to stem from them being an only child.

I actually married an only child, shockingly enough. He is excellent. The only way in which him being an only child impacts on our lives (and this is a minor thing) is that I wish DS had more cousins than my brother is likely to provide. Other than that, he has no more issues than anyone else (in fact, a lot less than most people - including me, despite my sibling status!)

If we have a choice on the number of children we have then I feel now, more than ever we need to make responsible decisions. In the last 50 years the world's population has doubled. There are just simply not enough resources on our Planet Earth for this to increase at this rate.