DC stating he wishes he was part of another family ...

[whenwhen12]

DC is an only and has a friend who has 3 siblings of various ages. We get on well with the whole family.

DC has just said to me that he sometimes wished he was part of their family so he would have someone to play with all the time at home. I pointed out that some of the siblings are too young to play with but he said yes but they are still cute and they are a team.

He was very careful to say he loved me and his dad and didn't want to hurt our feelings by saying it but it's just how he felt.

I said it's fine to feel like that sometimes and I also pointed out that the siblings won't always get on but I just feel so sad now ( I haven't shown him)

We wanted more but couldn't so I also feel a bit sad for me I suppose

Do you ever have these feelings..?

How old is he?

I felt like this as a child. As an adult, I am beyond happy I am an only!!! Even as a teenager those thoughts of wanting siblings were long gone.

My DD had severe sibling envy at primary school. Several times I walked her home while she wailed about it. Literally...
Then she met the younger sister of a school friend and it cured her.
She has older siblings (quite a lot older) and is now content with that!

He's nearly 8

At that age its pretty normal for kids to wish all sorts of things. It doesn't necessarily mean they aren't happy with how things are.

If it helps I have 4 and they regularly tell me they wish they were the only one / didn’t have siblings, kids are never happy

Thanks@PumpkinKlNG

I hope he is happy.. it's just heart wrenching when you feel there is nothing you can do. I wish things had been different but we are very lucky to have him. I try my best to make sure he has friends over and play dates but it's not been easy with Covid and all the restrictions!

At that age they are just discovering all the possibilities of life outside their own bubble. I wanted all sorts of things at that age - to have fewer (no) siblings was top of the list! Also to have a pony, to live in a city, to be a boy, for my 'real' parents to whisk me off to a castle because I was actually a secret princess, to go to boarding school.

He sounds very thoughtful and kind towards your feelings. Congratulations on having such a lovely wee boy

*We wanted more but couldn't so I also feel a bit sad for me I suppose

Do you ever have these feelings..?*

Very much so. Although I'm lucky that DS doesn't say he wants a sibling and I think meeting his friend's younger brother really put him off!! He's glad he's an only but I realise that can all change as he grows up. I went through all the guilt at not being able to have another but all I have to do is consider my brother who has nothing to do with me any more for reasons beyond other than he doesn't want to help me with my aged father who is getting more and more needy. So maybe I've done DS a favour as he won't have any sibling rivalry to deal with.

What pps have said is very wise. I really like the post by @ThatWasCrazy. So true what she says.