Hello everyone. I've been following this thread for a long time but never posted before. It's been a big support as my DD, now nearly 5, has been growing up. I'm happy to have one child and stop there but have felt under a lot of pressure from family and friends to have a second. My parent in-laws have, I've felt, scrutinised my DD's behaviour since she was 2, and have said that any issues which I now see with hindsight were normal developmental things, like difficulties sharing, are due to her being an only. I've since grown in confidence and know that this is just as common in kids with siblings so I can fend most of this stuff off now.
Anyway, DD is nearly 5 and she's great! But I'm having another 'only child' moment which I'd appreciate any advice about. Whenever she sees me comfort one of her friends if they hurt themselves, she gets really upset, tearful and angry. She says that it means that I don't love her and that it's not fair to her. I'm guessing that this is how children usually behave with a sibling, but they have to adapt to it over time. She spends a lot of time with friends, so I'm trying to give her lots of experience of dealing with this kind of stuff, but it doesn't seem to be making it any easier for her.
I tried sympathising with her and reasoning, which didn't work, then moved to getting cross, which didn't work either. So I'm back to trying to explain that I love her, and that she's my child, but that I can also be kind to other kids. I do find this difficult when we're around other parents and my in-laws, who I imagine see this as another 'only child' problem. Any advice appreciated, thanks a lot.