Growing up, I knew I was special. Not only was I the first child born, but within the years to come I'd discover that I would be the ONLY child born to my family. Before you ask, yes, my parents did want more children, but it wasn't possible. I was their perfect (or at least I think so) miracle child, weighing in at a whopping two pounds and fourteen ounces! I always did wish to have a sibling, but I soon learned that there were perks to being an only child. Here are a few things that all only children can relate to.
1. You're the favorite child.
Parents aren't supposed to have a favorite child. They love all their children equally. As an only child, you are the favorite. There's no competition except the ones that you develop on your own.
2. Your friends are your family.
In life, friends become our family. It's even more true with kids without siblings. Our friends become the siblings we never had. We want to do everything with them. Probably because we had to keep ourselves occupied as children.
3. Boredom rarely sets in.
Nothing to do on a Saturday night? The bookshelf can be reorganized by color! There is always something that can be done. You have always found ways to entertain yourself and turning into an adult does not change that.
4. We've never had to share much in our lives.
Daycare was a nightmare for us. We were forced to play nice and share with others. Being an only child meant you had your own room and your own toys. Some may call that selfish, but we call that life.
5. Personal space is a must.
Just because we were deprived of siblings doesn't mean we have no sense of personal space. In fact, it's the opposite. We thrive in our own space. When I went away to college, I only had to share a room and a bathroom with one roommate. Thankfully, I didn't freak out...too much.
6. Lack of siblings meant lack of suspects.
Did you play soccer in the living room, breaking a lamp? Yeah, it was all your fault. There was no way out of your crimes. You had to confess it and take the punishment. (Ghost and imaginary friends apparently could not break lamps).
7. There was a time when you had imaginary friends.
Imaginary friends were the friends you had when you got in a fight with your real friends and had to go home. You were creative with your time alone and expressed it in creating worlds and friends to play with.
8. Being "spoiled" wasn't a thing.
Just because you usually got what you wanted or got a lot for holidays doesn't mean that you were spoiled! It just means you were well-loved. Plus loads of other people got similar things! I can't be the only one who got a pony for Christmas, right?
9. There were times that you were actually lonely.
You had to wait for your parents to get off work or your friends to come over in order to have human interaction. You may have been creative, but you did need some time with real people.
10. You've always been mature for your age.
You've always been able to talk to adults and been self-sufficient. It's no wonder you're so independent.
Regardless of others' opinions, being an only child is pretty great. We've had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day it's good to be the favorite child.
