Originally posted by: Angel-likeDevil
I am an only child! :)
Personally, I never felt like I wanted a brother or sister. I used to wonder what it was like to have brother or sister and still do, but never yearned for it, until recently.
Hmm.. there are some things we discuss at home that could be because I'm an only child, it's not exclusive to being an only child but.. here goes -
As an only child, I loved it when people came to visit us or we went out. I remember distinctly and still feel it heavily - that when people came to visit us and when they were leaving I felt very sad inside. I never expressed it to my parents unless they caught me crying or even understood it properly myself until I was old enough. I feel sad and heavy on the inside when people were leaving, and especially if they stayed over for like a day or more and left... gone, my sea of emotions drowned me. I used to feel sad, and cry by myself :p Same happened when we went to other people's places and came back, or even when on tours. It's a shitty feeling, I still remember those moments. My mom tells me it could be because I'm an only child, that I wanted people's company. I kinda agree with her. But I never wanted-wanted.. like consciously wanted.. they came and I felt happy, they left and I felt sad that's all lol. I used to play a lot by myself too, I never feel lonely (sadly, until recently)
I used to be shy but somehow very friendly too. I used to be that kid that somehow went to everyone's house and played hehe. I used to make friends with everyone in the neighbourhood! :p And, even fell prey to bullies.. I used to feel bad when someone hit me or teased me but I didn't know how to tell them or confront them, infact in my early childhood I accepted them, I used to play with them and slowly they became my friends, so it's all good.. Perhaps it would've been different though if I had a sibling. That hitting, punching, speaking up, knowing how to complain, making peace and all would've been understood by me naturally with a parent figure to watch over and definitely no sibling keeps quiet when their sister is being bullied :/ ..and maybe I wouldn't be so outgoing or desperate despite all that bullying if I had my sister or brother. And, I never told my parents about bullying unless they saw it on my body... and my dad would get angry and tell me 'why don't you tell us, why didn't you hit her back, why didn't you blah blah blah' :/ ..
Contrary to what the stereotype is about an only child being pampered. NOOOOOOO. My dad was very very very strict and tough on me when I was a child (he became the total opposite as I grew older).
Another thing I noticed about myself and another friend who is an only child is, we're both very invested in our family issues. We're both very emotionally involved and very disturbed by family issues that are not concerned to us directly, in way except that our parents/relatives are hurt or in pain and that there's a discord. My other friends have family problems too, and they're emotionally invested as well, but, it looks like they are stronger and carry about as if it's their daily life, they know that world isn't coming to an end... it is/was not so for him and me, we were not emotionally mature enough maybe.
My only child friend is also the same with his friends. They teased him a lot, but he just goes along with it even though he feels bad. He still gets teased but has a strong individuality, doesn't budge to peer pressure.. which is also something I find within me (again,this isn't exclusive to only child, I know few people with siblings who are very individualistic, but just pointing the similarities).. there are some things in us that we're very stubborn about. He still has vaaaaast circle of friends like I had in my childhood, he doesn't stick around with one group or one buddy, he has many friends everywhere and is still a loner.. !
I also feel like we come across as a little aloof and distant in daily life, like for people who I live with. Atleast my friend and I do.. we don't do that intentionally, but like in an everyday setting, we are calmer and lost in our own world, we are very engaging but there's some silence about us.. and we don't mind that silence in others. It can get boring to other people.
Another strange trait about us is, when we go out to a gathering or a party, we just get led on and we don't really know when to say bye, when to take an initiative, we just nod for everything and go with the flow.. This is funny but when our parents tell us, 'chalo, it's time let's go', we don't get up immediately and be like 'chalo'.. IDK how to explain.. lol. Our parents pointed this out actually.
My parents never feel like they wish I had a sibling. But I wish they had another child.. Everyone around us told my parents they should've had another child, especially when I was ill and my health was in total ruins.. My parents hate it when people say that to them but... it's true.. I feel like they should've had another child.. they would've had some support of some sort when I was not able to give them that.
As for me.. I want 3 kids :p ..IDK why, it's not for any reason, other than, I feel the need for 3 kids for now. But not going to push for it, I'll accept what universe will bless me with!
I wrote too much mess and have digressed in many places, so excuse for that. I mean, it can't be so cut and dry.. I think any number of children is great.. there's no advantage or disadvantage or pros and cons or much differences between us other than our "if I had... blah blah" "If it was so.. blah blah" .. :)
Goodluck Zandu ji.. may you be blessed with love and health :)