One child familes - please can we have our own topic?

[Mulanmum]

Recently we started a thread in the Parenting section for families with one child aka "onlies". There's been a good response and there are lots of things relating to having just one child that we'd like to discuss.

Please can we have our own topic?

Can someone explain to me (a relative newcomer) how these things work? Is the fact that we haven't got a topic yet evidence that we'll never get one (in other words, you get it within hours of asking or you don't get it at all)?

I think it may take a while. I believe they have to have a focus group, send it out to research, discuss at committee, board and executive board level and then finally deliver their decision from on high.

I think the chicken-keepers had to wait 1924541719 years. Let's take hope from them.

And don't go to Netmums TFT!! They like fresh blood over there and will DEVOUR you.

squeaver - Ah yes! But I think you've forgotten about the scoping study, before they convene the focus group.

It will be like getting the vote. In years to come, we can point at the only child topic on MN and say, all misty eyed and proud, 'Yes, we did that. We may not have achieved much but, by God, we got an only child topic on MN.'

Good idea by the way!

another vote for this topic please. All my NCT group and other peers are starting on no 2 and my ds is highly likely to be an only (I was widowed whilst pg). Meeting other people with onlies is very important to me, I'm starting to feel a bit isolated and am not in the loop on all those little conversations about coping with 2 or more etc.

there are lots of things we could cover - society's perceptions of onlies, how to deal with onlies, how to cope if we wanted more children and can't have them, how to deal with other people's expectations if we chose to stick with the one; holidays, sharing, playdates, meet ups, the challenges of being a small family (in particular if single parents and your little family is just 2 people); how to answer when the onlies get older and beg for baby brothers or sisters ... do you want me to go on? My strategy is to bore you into submission!

oh and will do survey now!

Dammit, of course! That'll add at least another 3 months. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to Justine's powerpoint presentation. I hope she provides decent biscuits and not just those crappy mint imperials.

Wheelsonthebushavefallenoff - Thank you for telling us your story. If it means anything to you - you are completely in our loop! Thanks for your powerful words. Very good points.

Squeaver ssssshhhhhhhh sssshhhhhhhh ssssssssssshhhhh (whispers in your ear - mentioning netmums was simply a tactical move. I am too addicted to the foocs to go anywhere other than mn!!!! Anyway - they all think fascinator rock over there I know I would find that just far too scary!!!)

WOW - I didn't know Justinemumsnet does a powerpoint for new topics!??!

Justinemumsnet - do you want us to do some gathering of quotes, facts and figures for you to use in said powerpoint? We can help you make it very learned - if you want us to help!

(to side - and if we help it will free you up to write your foocs report!)

are we having this then?

I would be very up for this too

I was thinking - while we wait for Justinemumsnet's top notch powerpoint with I am sure home made biscuits shall we ask another topic if they mind if we camp at their place for a while?

I noticed there are not many posts in Gay Parents and Disabled parents and I am sure as our issues for discussion are quite different so our titles will stand out from each other and there will be no confusion.

We could also ask the large families if we could camp with them. Being at the other end of the scale they will understand that family size effects issues we, as parents, have to cope with. I feel they will be sympathetic to our cause - take us onlies under their big family Motherly wing maybe?

Or talking about creatures with wings - it occured to me that the chicken keepers might be our best bet because they will understand our plight having spent so long getting their own topic.

Alternatively we could post on parenting but make it a rule that we write ONLY CHILD before a thread title so we can see it clearly.

So my fellow onlies - Any preferred temporary solution - or perhaps someone has a better idea... like see if netmums will give us a space - or maybe not, Squeaver!!!!????!!!!!

Oh lordy TFT you're going to cause a mass uprising next! Or self-combust!

Perhaps a little email to MNHQ would help things along. Off to compose one now.

Ha ha ha!!!!

Would the uprising be one for us or against us... though? Hey... we have to play it cool. Look for intelligent understanding and sympathy not cause mass annoyance! I was just thinking ideally another topic group would say we can stay at their place while ours is being built!

By the way it was no more than ponderings... I am much more of a thinker than a doer in general!!!

Have emailed the powers that be. Anxiously waiting for their response

Hope no one has self-combusted (messy), yes, that's a good idea and have put in a request to BigTech to do the necessary. Please bear with us, should be there by Monday at the latest.

Akshully, it's done. Here you go

AW AW AW!!!!! Geraldinemumsnet- that is brilliant!!!!

Psssssstttt.... Geraldinemumsnet - I invited Justinemumsnet to be a fooc. I think she is simply too busy making biscuits for people to eat while watching her powerpoints to contribute though.

I am embarrassed, I was so excited about the new topic for one child families that never thought to mention... It would be just as perfect and lovely to have a few reports from you!!!!

The idea is it is reports from parents living all over the World and experiencing a variety of experiences. I am sure such forward thinking and open-minded people like you at mnhq would have a lot of great observations of the World around you to tell us all about!