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One-child families

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Original poster

Why do people say such rude unhelpful things because I have one?

78 replies

Enchanted82 · 12/06/2025 13:26

I’m feeling so sad and could do with some advice.
we are one and done,(DD8) it has always felt the right decision for us for many reasons and I never yearned for another but…. Others make such horrible comments and it really gets to me and I feel I am failing because my daughter doesn’t have a sibling. Things like ‘she must be so lonely’ how horrible she had nobody to play with during Covid’ ‘ I guess she is very close to grandparents because she doesn’t hsve a sibling’

isn’t the most important thing in life being safe, loved and having parents who love one another? So many children don’t have that.

we do everything we can to help our daughter lead a full life, develop friendships, spend time doing hobbies and with friends. she has parents who support and love her.

OP posts:
Caravaggiouch · 07/07/2025 08:14

Mushypeas101 · 06/07/2025 00:14

I find this so sad OP and I’m very sorry you’ve had to suffer these comments. I am an “only child” (awful saying!) and now in my mid 30s. I grew up with some very rude comments, admittedly mostly from other children who maybe didn’t know better, but either way it was reflective of the overriding attitude in the 90s/00s - such as, “were you a mistake?” Or bluntly “why did your parents only have you?” Etc. I’ve also recently had people say “you’re so normal even though you’re an only child!” (Yeah and you’re a fucking weirdo despite having 3 siblings 🫠).

I found this harder to deal with than I ever admitted as I didn’t want to upset my parents. However, I grew up and realised it doesn’t mean shit whether you have siblings or not. In recent years, I’ve had some friends say they would only want one child and have met more families with one child which gave me hope that people have become less judgemental and have finally realised that being an only child doesn’t make you odd or lonely.

I really hope that people really will let go of this nonsense about only children and concentrate on what really matters. Don’t let these ignorant people get you down OP!

I’m fairly sure I’m a fucking weirdo because of having 3 siblings.

AbwooliO · 14/07/2025 17:47

I think we live in a time where people have to justify their positions by negatively commenting on others - as a fellow one and done, who came from a family with many siblings I don't think a full house necessarily means a connected one. Children need an environment that supports and nurtures them and it isn't a case of one size fits all family syatems.

Tireddadplus · 14/07/2025 18:44

My DW seems to soak up all the one and done nonsense. I get positive feedback regarding my wonderful bond with our DD. I’ve never understood why women get so much stick regarding kids! Seems unfair.

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