Growing up, people were always so surprised when I would tell them I’m an only child. They’d say things like “Oh, I never would have guessed you were an only child!” or, “you don’t seem like the only child type to me!” But, what is the only child type supposed to be like?

Many people make assumptions that only children are spoiled, super dependent on their parents and grew up lonely. Maybe people didn’t think I was an only child because I am not any of these things.

My parents work hard every single day and provide for our family as best as they can. I am thankful for that and all that have done and continue to do for me. I take too much pride in how hard they work, so I don’t ask for much. My credit card has my name on it, not their's. My birthdays and Christmas’s are just like everyone else’s. I don’t get everything I ask for. If I want something, I have to work hard for it. My parents taught me the value of dollar, and because of that, I have gained independence. I work three jobs on a weekly basis and have proved I can provide for myself when it comes to the basics like filling up my car with gas, paying some of my bills and using my own money to make purchases on things I want or need.

When it comes to relying on my parents, it doesn’t mean they are the only ones I can count on. A lot assume that only children are often lonely or sad because they don’t have any siblings. Just because I don’t have any brothers or sisters doesn’t mean I am alone all the time! I grew up with more than a dozen kids in my neighborhood and was never bored. Anyone who wanted to ride bikes or jump on the trampoline was just a few houses down. The older I got, the more social I became. I always want to make plans with friends to keep me grounded. When no one is available or free to hang out, I don’t mind being alone. It gives me the freedom to go about my day as I choose.

Maybe after reading this, you will realize that not every only child is the same, There are a lot of us out there, and we're all different. Not all can grasp what it’s like to be an only child, only the ones who are can!