In praise of only children - the great things about having just one!

[flobbleflobble]

Just wanted to start a positive thread about how fab it is to have an only child! In reaction to all the threads worrying about how sub-optimal some folk find it not to have more than one...

So here goes - to start off a list in praise of only children :

• you can take them to stuff appropriate to their age group without having to drag along a disinterested sibling
  
  
• peace and calm at home with no sibling rivalry and squabbles/ violence
  
  
• you can do something with another family without involving 2 cars/people carrier
  
  
• far easier to combine one child with work/social committments
  
  
• easier to provide financially for 1 child

[Marina]

Don't apologise RTKM. In my experience there is a multitude of reasons why a family might outwardly consist of only one child and a lot of them include terrible heartache
I was really pleased to see a lot of the posts on this thread too as I have been in that situation myself in the past.
I would have thought that anyone posting on here for a while might have remembered and respected WHY other posters are discussing the many positives of a one-child family.
Real life provides plenty of opportunities for people to be crass and tactless about apparent only children.

[jodee]

I didn't deliberately want to put a downer on this thread either!

On a positive note - it only takes me 5 mins to do one lunchbox when I am in a mad rush in the mornings!

Homework with one is a doddle!

[RTKangaMummy]

There are no arguements about remote control for TV

well apart from between Kangaboy and kangamummy

[Cam]

Hugs and kisses to Kanga and Marina
Jodee you know what will happen now you've sold those things!

[RTKangaMummy]

Marina Thanks

[RTKangaMummy]

{{{{{{ marina }}}}

[RTKangaMummy]

Thanks Cam

[RTKangaMummy]

No queue for the bathroom

[Chandra]

PND hits you only once and you don't need to worry of loosing the last remaining part of your memory after another pregnancy. (well, at least that's what I worry about after my first experience of pregnancy )

[gothicmama]

{}{}{} just thought I'd join in

[TinyGang]

I heard on the radio the other day - some study or other - that many famous and successful people throughout history were only children

[RTKangaMummy]

You can take him swimming alone

rahter than have the rule of maximum of 2 with each adult

[Cam]

There's a chance I might be kept in my old age then

[ninah]

oh yes the swimming one's good

[Marina]

The swimming one is a BIG plus

[RTKangaMummy]

Only have one school run to do in the morning

rather than one child here another one here

sports day, concerts, school plays, parents evenings clashing and so one child disappointed

Also parents evenings at DS school you get an appointment time to go to see teacher and when they overrun parents with 2,3, or 4 children are trying to co ordinate the timings and running back and forth from appointment to appointment

And so cause mass confusion as they are trying to fit in

[jodee]

Don't know what you mean, Cam!

[ediemay]

only 1 to relocate evrything in kitchen cupboards on a daily basis

[wishfulthinking]

I luuurrrrvvve this thread! .
Me and dh only ever wanted one child and we've got her and she's gorgeous and delicious and everything we could have ever wished for! But it's still hard work and I can't imagine more than one. I am a twin (brother) and have an older brother also; I don't particularly remember them being a massive part of my young life. We are all very close and always have been in adulthood; that is the one thing that makes me wonder about being an 'only' one - when we have gone, who is there for our dd? I console myself that she will have a terrific network of friends/family by then. And anyway, who says that siblings always get on? You can choose your friends but you can't choose your family.

[flobbleflobble]

I am so thrilled with all the positivity & celebrations on this thread and very touched by how many people appreciated the idea.

Big love to all the little families and to all the bigger families who suprised me by joining in this thread with such lovely posts too

Flobble xxx

[pablopatito]

Good thread. We've recently had our first child (2 months ago) and at the moment really can't imagine wanting another. One seems just perfect.

However, I'm trying to imagine what my life would be like without my two brothers. What would holidays have been like, what would it have been like when my father died, what would it be like not having neices and nephews? What would it be like not to have been introduced to Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg and the Cocteau Twins when I was 12? Who would have taken me to see U2 when I was 14? Who would have bought me my first pint? And am I denying my son all those experiences and that support network?

[pablopatito]

Sorry, my post sounds negative - didn't mean it to! I think all the positive posts are great and reassure us if we only have one child. I really appreciate them.

[northerner]

Atm I have just 1 ds (aged 3), not sure if we will have another. Some days I want more, others I don't. What I do find though is that some people can be so rude when they find out we might stop at 1 child. Some people think it's selfish to only have 1 child, which is utter rubbish. People have many different reasons for having only 1 child, and we shouldn't have to explain our reasons to the rest of society.

I am an only child and don't feel I missed out on anything by not having siblings.

I have a book with the following quote:

'Children aren't like salted pretzels, you don't have to have more than 1'

[RTKangaMummy]

northener deffo brill re pretzels

could be pringles or sqare of choccy in my case

[Dahlia]

northerner, before we had dd2, I used to get comments all the time (dd1 was 7) about her being an only child and "oh you must have another or she'll be spoiled" etc etc, and it used to really bug me. What I loved about having one was that it was quality time all the time. We were a close knit little threesome, me, her and dh, and it was cosy and lovely and intimate. Much as I really really wanted another child (and had one in the end) I really enjoyed the fact that we could give her all of our attention all of the time. So there's an awful lot to be said for just having one.