Only Children as Adults: do you feel anxiety to make your own family?

Question

This is for only children. Since we don't have siblings, and parents typically predecease their children, do you feel like you have to make your own family through marriage and children? Do you think if you had siblings you wouldn't feel the same pressure? If you don't feel this way, why? And what is your advice for dealing with the anxiety?

Answer

I didn't feel any pressure to have children. I wanted children. My husband has siblings, all of which have no intention of having children, and he didn't feel pressure either.

Answer

I didn't want kids but when I got pregnant I was over the moon. I do have anxiety about if anything ever happens to them. They are divorced and I have one step sibling each but I know if anything happens to them I'll lose my family . I am estranged with my mom but the anxiety is still there & they both came from family's of 4 kids each. My daughter is (somehow) an only child but we deff want tho give her a sibling!! (After 7 years I recognize now how much of a miracle it is that I got pregnant at all) her dad has 4 half siblings . sorry if it sounds like I'm ramling I feel like I am lol

Answer

I dont feel a pressure to have my own family at all. I do have a family now but my husband and I both didnt want kids when we got married. A part of me felt like I needed to give my parents grandchildren but I also remembered it is my own life and I need to live it how I want. I didnt feel like I needed to fill a void either... being an only child I was and am more than ok being being on my own. Being an only child is lonely but you learn how to deal/cope and move on in your own way. I hope that all made sense!

Answer

By technicality i am an only child of my parents but have 3 sibs from my mom and two from my dad. Though they were older and never really got a close sibling relationship. So when I had my first baby at 21 i thought it would be my only child. I had all my parents attention and never lacked and was happy. But as time went by I felt like I wanted to make a bigger family and give my child siblings so now I have a almost 2 and 10 yr old and another baby coming this feb. i think being the only one from my parents kinda makes me want to have a larger family and the same goes for my husband. He was a legit only child and he wants a big family he believes because of that.

Answer

I never wanted kids, but I knew if I got pregnant I would keep it. I was pressured by family for ever about not wanting kids, but I didn't let that effect me. I ended up pregnant in 2017 with our daughter, after a mistake made by my family doctor. I knew from that moment I would have one more kid. I HATED being an only child. I just found out last week that I'm pregnant with our second. Once I have this one, my tubes will be tied.

Answer

I am a only child and I went through the same feelings as your having. Yes, with no siblings it's a little scary to think when your parents aren't around anymore, it's sad not to have siblings to lean on. I am married and currently have four kids. I also have anxiety and I take medication for it, which has helped tremendously. Don't be too hard on yourself, easier said then done though. Good Luck

Only Children as Adults: do you feel anxiety to make your own family?

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