Any only child fams out there with small families

[itscomplicatedlife]

We just have DD but don't each have a lot
of involvement from any of our own families sadly, this was not expected! My DM died suddenly a after she was born changing my entire dynamic on my side, we see no one and it isn't for lack of trying they just aren't interested. Any other 1 child families out there like this and feeling very lonely at times?? I found Christmas very hard we only saw
My step dad (the only family we see weekly) and my sister who bothers to see DD 1-2 times in a year!! We have luckily a few friends wirh similar age children she sees at least 1 every wk but I feel terrible there is just my stepdad and sister who bother and that's it! DD has not bonded with DP step mum but does like his dad but he doesn't bother at all 🥺

I don’t have siblings, am childfree, and only have 1 relative, who I choose to have minimal contact with. Family is what we choose for ourselves, I adore my family that I built myself. Sharing genetic material with people doesn’t mean anyone has to like each other.

Me. We are older parents. My mum died when DD was 3. My Dad when my DD was 16. DHs parents were dead before I met him.

My brother lives abroad. My cousins are not close by.

But it is what it is. I used to pray that she met and married someone from a large family but she is currently dating a lad who is also an only child. 🤷‍♀️

We have a few relatives but we are not particularly close (either emotionally or geographically) however it's never really worried me, in fact reading the threads on here about dysfunctional families over the years I view it a positive . We've always had friends in the community, through Church, sports etc so never felt 'lonely'.

Agree with Now, just because you are related to someone doesn't mean you will get on with them.

The getting on with relatives is an interesting point tbh, Ive always been so differnt to my mother and father, just totally differnt people and my sister and me aren't close either! My DH father and brother also didn't get along and dont keep in touch. I hear more about larger families feuding than the smaller only child families, perhaps being a smaller family in that regard is a good thing. Everything has its pros and cons but it's great to hear from others, thank you all for replying x

We have 1 DD and both come from smallish families. I think a small, close family is much much better for a child than a large unhappy or dysfunctional one. We have friends with similar age kids and make a real effort to see them, in the hopes that they'll feel like cousins to our DD as she grows up.

I am an only child.

My mam is an only child and when I was born both of her parents were dead.

My dad is 1 of 3. Eldest lived in another country with no children, middle lived locally with 3 children (youngest is 10 years older than me). Both parents alive when I was born, one died when I was quite young and the other when I was 9!

I've never had much family.

Now, I've got a 4 month old. I have my parents, partner (lives separately!), he has both parents and 1 sister (childless).

I feel sorry for my 4 month old - but the situation is what it is.

We're a small family.

I have a son age 4. My husband is an only child. I have a brother but he lives abroad and has no partner/children.

So my son has no cousins and also no grandparents. I also have no aunts/uncles as my parents were only children!

I do feel sad at times like Christmas when I see adverts on tv with big families or hear of big plans whereas it's just us 3.

But it is what it is and we're a close family of 3.

I always thought I'd have more than 1 child but after having PND and a birth trauma I'm not sure I can do it all over again.