Often times, when I tell people I am an only child, I get one of two looks. The first one is this sad, pitying expression – like they are sorry on my behalf that my parents did not have another child for me to spend my time with. The second one is a mix of shock and horror. This is either because they don’t understand how a person can be an only child (this look mainly comes from people who have grown up with quite a few siblings), or it's because they’ve seen Willy Wonka and believe that all only children are like Veruca.
Either way, I’ve seen it all in my 23 years, and since most of my friends have siblings, I’ve come to realize they are certain things only people who were not blessed with siblings will understand:
1. You didn’t understand how to speak to other children.
I spent a lot of time with my parents and my parents' friends. I could converse with adults when I was 10-years-old easily, but ask me to converse with other 10-year-olds? Haha. I’d rather not.
2. You have no siblings to blame.
If I broke something, I broke it. I had no one to force the blame onto but myself.
3. Your imagination is extensive.
I had no siblings to play with. If I wanted entertainment, I had to make up my own.
4. Imaginary friends.
I feel like this is self-explanatory.
5. You grew up reading, writing, painting, or engaging in some kind of art.
Again, when there are no other children around to play with, you have to find a way to entertain yourself.
6. Board games were a challenge.
There are three of us in my family. We would play Monopoly and Sorry and all those other board games, and it was great - it also instilled in me a competitiveness that I have never been able to get rid of, - but it was always a bit different than my friends with siblings would explain it.
7. Spending time with your cousins was a blessing.
My mom comes from a large Polish family. Most of my cousins were siblingless as well, so being able to hang out together was always
8. You are often labeled as “spoiled.”
While I may have gotten a few extra presents during the holidays, I was in no way spoiled. I still had to take out loans to pay for college and I've had a part-time job since I was 16
9. Parental pressure.
I love my parents, I do. That doesn't change the fact that literally all of their hopes and dreams of raising a decent human being rest upon me, and I continually feel like I am failing them somehow, even when they explicitly tell me that I am not.
10. If you want kids, you want more than one.
I know
11. You probably grew up slightly introverted.
I've always thought of myself as an introvert, but even extroverted only children I've meant often talk about how they're not as in need of human contact all the time.
12. You've mastered the art of alone time.
Honestly, most of the time I need my alone time. I grew up with a lot of it, so when I have people constantly trying to get my attention, I get slightly confused.
