Honest opinion - what do you think of parents choosing to have one child?

[ConnectThree]

We have a 7 year old DS and no fertility issues that we know of.
We have still chosen to have only one child.
I guess I’m just wondering what other parents think?

My friendship group spends much more time with friends than family. Maybe because a number of us have moved away from family. But you have to make the effort

Thanks so much. DS is 12. He's just been diagnosed with epilepsy (not that has any bearing on this topic!) He has what is turning out to be a close friend who he plays games with every day and they have been to each other's houses. But friendships at this age are fleeting.

I met my best friend at 12 and we still speak several times a week 25 years later. She's truly more family to me than my own siblings. We spent all our school years together, clubbing together, holidays and now children together. We have more memories together than I do with my sibling I feel. You sound a wonderful mum, I'm sure your DS will be absolutely fine.

I think there is so much negativity on this thread, and sadly it reflects what a lot of people still think of only children and those deciding to have only children. I have struggled with my choice to have another child, not because we aren’t completely content with one and quite frankly living our dream life (because we can)…but because of other people’s opinions, other people saying things like ‘they need a built in friend’. Do you know how heartbreaking it is when someone says they will be lonely in the future because people always choose their family over friends and make out their is basically no hope for your only child?! I am one of four siblings and would turn to my best friend before any of them, in fact I barely even speak to my brother. People need to stop commenting on other people’s choices.

All the adult only children I know have good, strong friendship groups and get on well with their parents. The younger only children I know tend to be more mature and better behaved than those with siblings. I think they grasp the importance of friendship early because they don’t have siblings around.

Of course there is nothing quite like a good sibling relationship but when it goes wrong it can be awful.