The disadvantages of having siblings

[Belinda]

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[pheasantchick]

I know a few only children. In one case, the parents make extra effort to ensure that the child socialises with other children so they don't miss out, and didn't become insular. In another, the child is quite grown up for their age. This child also has a dilemma between her (well-meaning) parents who do alot of adult, cultural visits etc, and her friends who do normal teenage stuff (like shopping etc). The child seems to have to lives, one with her friends, and one with her parents. Some parents with only children seemto indulge their children, others seem to ignore them.

I'm one of four, and wouldn't have it any other way. As a child, there was always someone to play with. You get used to sharing, arguing, making -up etc. When I went to uni, an only child I knew couldn't cope with the noisy halls environment, whilst the noise was normal to me. Its also lovely now to have nephew and nieces.

Belinda - you beat me to it. ie. pro-sibling post!

[Fran17]

Very interesting thread! My DH is an only child, he is a lovely man. Selfless, generous, sociable, contented and totally at ease with the world. However, if you question him on the subject of being an only child he says he would have loved to have had a sibling and was envious of his friends who did. I am the youngest of four. My older siblings don't get on at all and don't see each other. I have three sons and they are very close, they are very supportive of one another and being so incredibly different from one another there doesn't seem to be any rivalry. I think I am concluding that you just can't generalise.

[scarlett]

Your husband sounds very nice Fran..

With a herd of older brothers I have to say a lot was traumatically blocked out...although I do remember having to barricade my bedroom door on Sundays after a big roast because they would all troop in and pass brussel sprout smelling wind on my pillow and then suffocate me with it however, that does wonders for confidence and survival skills.

[Fran17]

With a herd of older brothers I have to say a lot was traumatically blocked out...although I do remember having to barricade my bedroom door on Sundays after a big roast because they would all troop in and pass brussel sprout smelling wind on my pillow and then suffocate me with it however, that does wonders for confidence and survival skills.

Oh scarlett you have really made me laugh out loud. Sounds just like a Sunday afternoon at our house. Why do boys find great delight in this sort of behaviour! Mine will pass horrible smelling wind and they try to waft it towards me by waving a cushion in my direction. Being the only female in the house definitely has it's disadvantages. They do make me laugh a lot though!

[scarlett]

I know ! and if it's not my boys it's my Dh and then earlier the dog was sitting against the french windows parping loudly and I just thought..thank goodness for DD. Then I looked at her and she was picking her nose. Just me then.

[Fran17]

I love your family scarlett! I think I would feel very comfortable in their company!

[scarlett]

We are what you might call " basic ".

P.S shall have to call you Auntie Fran.

[Fran17]

I would regard that as a honour!

[aargh]

Through growing up with numerous siblings you learn to be selfless, placing the needs of others before your own. You are confident negotiators and can debate and compromise. You respect individuality, privacy and analyse the identity of self and others much sooner than only children.

This is where I repeat that it depends who you get.
My Aunts and Uncles all say my older sister seemed fairly OK until I arrived and then she became incredibly selfish and jealous, This began when I was tiny and had not in any way provoked it except by existing. Despite all my efforts to be friends this continued throughout childhood and into adulthood. She is the most selfish, dishonest person I know. She never puts the needs of others before her own. She used to break my and my other sister's stuff, read our secret things and steal from us.
These days she lives alone in the outer hebrides and we would not dream of visiting each other.