Only children: do you wish you had siblings?

Question

I have one daughter- my November baby. I am OK with only ever having one child but her father would like us to have more children. He says that people who are only children always wish they had siblings. Is this true? I would think it has advantages being an only child!

Answer

I am an only child and my husband (who has a half sibling) and I are struggling with this same topic. We would love for our son to have a sibling but also realize that it may not be what is best for our family as a whole for various reasons. We had a pretty difficult and scary birth experience and while we are lucky to have a happy and healthy little boy now, it is constantly in the back of our minds. I also unfortunately struggle with anxiety, which was intensified greatly after our son was born. I feel like this stole a lot from the newborn experience and bonding with him and I don’t want to feel that way or put my family through it again. The idea of another child is not off the table yet; however, I will not allow myself to be made to feel guilty if we decide not to have another child. You need to do what’s best for you and what works for your family. As an only child, I turned out just fine. I always had friends and family around and my parents were great about letting me bring friends on trips and keeping me active and social. My mom has recently said she feels badly that when something happens to her and my father that it will be all on me. I’m sure it won’t be east by any means, but they have provided me with such great foundations and I have such a supportive husband and extended family that I know I won’t be alone just because I don’t have a sibling. All we can hope for is to prepare our children for life in general and to welcome the best possible people into their lives who will love them and support them unconditionally. Sorry for the long post...I was just so glad someone else is thinking along these same lines too.

Answer

Not true! I do not wish I had siblings and I never really wanted any growing up. My SO is the same-only child and never wanted siblings. I am introverted and have lived for several periods in households with lots of people in them and it was always a struggle even as a kid. I am always fine entertaining myself and in a house with others it's difficult to find alone time. On the other hand, if I want to hang out with people I go try to make friends.
I mean, sure, you might be friends with your sibling and that might have been cool. But it's just as likely to not be close with a sibling or not even get along at all. Then you're just stuck with each other. I remember going to friends' houses and they'd fight with their siblings and I would be SO happy to not have to deal with that!

Answer

I loved being an only child but I also had like 10 first cousins. I still had the rivalry and all the things siblings had but was so thankful I got to come home to peace and quiet. As an adult I don’t even talk to them just like siblings don’t communicate sometimes. I still prefer being an only child and so does my husband.

Answer

As someone who is now an only child, knowing what it was to have a sibling, I feel so burdened by being an only child now. Coupled with missing my longest time friend.  My SO and I had been good with one and done, and after my sisters passing this year, we quickly moved on baby #2. Now due in August. I guess if you don’t know what you’re missing it probably wouldn’t matter; but knowing what I’m missing, I don’t want our daughter to never know that love or friendship.  Whatever you decide to do, I wish you all the best!

Answer

I am an only child and I sooo wished to have siblings when I was a kid and kinda still do today. 
It's one of the reasons I want my boy to have siblings.
My hubby is an only child too and he's very happy with it tough. But as his wife I kinda see the responsibilities that come with it. His parents are on the older side already and he (and consequently me) are the only ones who can ever take care of them. Not saying you wouldn't gladly do that for your parents but it's nice to sometimes split responsibilities with siblings I guess.

Answer

The only people I know who don’t mind being an only child, grew up with cousins they were really close to.

Answer

I am an only child and tbh am sooo jealous of people with siblings. My SO is one of 7 and I envy that bond he has with them. Me and my parents loved states away from cousins etc and I constantly felt alone if I wasn’t somewhere doing something. I was such a busy body because I wanted to be places and around people.

Answer

Myself and a close friend are both only children. I want 4 kids, he wants 5. One thing that I think a lot of people don't consider is that one day you'll be older and need help. I watched my dad and his sisters help their dad as he was getting less mobile and eventually died and my mom and get brother helped take care of their mom after my grandfather died until she died 11 years later. And I watched them knowing one day it will all fall on me. Obviously my husband will help but that's not the same has being able to since responsibilities among 2 or 3 families. 
My aunts and uncle don't have any children either, so I was also an only grandchild on both sides. Sure, I got a lot of attention. All the attention. Which also means all the expectations to continue the family and be successful.
I obviously have a lot of feelings on the matter, sorry to slam you with them. If you don't have the means to care for more children, which was my parents excuse for it, or don't want them, then don't. But yes, I've always wished for a sibling. My imaginary friend as a kid was an imaginary sibling.

Answer

I was not an only child but essentially was bc there was 8 years between my closest sibling. It was really lonely with no one to play with. Also not to be morbid but i know several only children whose parents got ill and died young and the child was alone trying to take care of the end of life. They all said they wished they had a sibling to share the load.

Answer

I know several people who are only children and they wish they had siblings

Only children: do you wish you had siblings?

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