If YOU are an only child, was it/ is it okay?

[magicturnip]

I have one ds aged 6 months who I am struggling to get to take a bottle. I am 40 years old. I am seeing my chances of having another child fade away. It is looking like I won't even get to start trying till I am 41 and I have pcos. So this is my question, if YOU are an only child, how is it? Was it okay as a child and is it okay as an adult? And were you part of a wider extended family? My ds isn't and is very unlikely to have any cousins, and even if he did they would be hundreds of miles away. I am worried about him being lonely. I think social connectedness is the most important thing in the world and I am worried for him.

Another only here.....I would say it's easy to HAVE an only but not so easy to BE one. You really can't get away from the fact that you are the single focus of parental expectations. It's a heavy load. As others have said, though, a lot of that depends on character types of the specific parents.

I'm an only, and my dd is too. I grew up in a close community with loads of other children so never felt disadvantaged or lonely. I think being an only can make you very self-sufficient and "sensible", although I also know of many onlies who are spoiled and attention-seeking.

The only time I felt disadvantaged by my "only" status was when my mother died and I had to take responsibility single-handedly for the arrangements. I also took responsibility for my invalid cousin and frail auntie as well as my own toddler dd.

The one thing I find difficult about having an only child is ensuring that she has plenty of opportunities to socialise. This means friends over for tea and sleepovers/days out on a frequent basis. We take another child on holiday too, if possible.

Remember also OP, and I know that your son is 6 months old so this may seem a bit 'far off' BUT let's say when your ds is a young adult, statistically I would guess he is likely to get into a relationship with someone who isn't an only child - therefore in the broader sense he will be likely to have siblings, nephews nieces also. So you could argue he'll get to experience both worlds, the independence of being an only, plus the experience of a larger family! Win win??