I'm an only child but I'm not spoiled rotten, selfish, mean, ignorant, or any other stereotype of only children.
I might not have had to share a bedroom, share the toys, or share a car, but I know how to share.
I might get lots of attention from my family, but I have 12 younger cousins who get just as much.
Everyone has their own idea of what an only child looks like or acts like. People think that only children have it easy or that everything is spoon-fed to them. But I worked for what I wanted, and I worked hard. I paid for my first cell phone in seventh grade. I did chores for no allowance. I babysat my cousins constantly. I spent thousands of hours practicing the flute and piano. Then I started giving music lessons when I was 14. I had my first job at age 16 and worked 10–12 hours a day in the summer. Nothing was handed to me, and in the off chance it ever was, I was usually over appreciative. I said "thank you" a hundred times until they were sick of hearing it. I appreciated when things were made easy for me. But I never ever expected it. I'm not entitled to have everything handed to me just because of my only child status.
I wish we could just drop the stereotypes of only children. When I tell people I'm an only child, one of the first things that I usually hear is, "Oh, so you got everything you wanted?" I immediately tell them no. My mom didn't hand me everything I wanted. In fact, when I was young and going through the can't-take-no-for-an-answer phase, she told me no a lot. "Mom, can I have this?" "No." Then I'd ask, "Why not, Mom?" And she'd say, "Asked and answered." I learned to respect my mom's decisions, whether or not I agreed with them. She reminded me that I am never entitled to anything. She said, "If you want something, work for it."
Growing up, it never even occurred to me that being an only child could be quite different from having siblings. I had plenty of friends, plenty of younger cousins, and I never really felt alone. My friends always thought I had it so good because I didn't have to share anything with anyone. If it was mine, it was only mine. But I would have loved to share! Playing dollhouse alone got old, and singing karaoke by myself got boring.
All that being said, I think being an only child made me a stronger person. I learned to share when I played with my friends or cousins because I was glad to finally have someone to share with! I learned to work for things I want when my mom reminded me that nothing would be spoon-fed to me. That's just life. I learned to be kind to others because I knew if I wasn't, I'd be lonely.
But most of all, I think being an only child taught me to be happy. It taught me not to depend on anyone but myself for my happiness, since that's all I really had. Although sometimes it was lonely, I know it made me who I am today. Being an only child was truly a blessing in disguise. But now, when my mom gets married in July, I'll have two new step-brothers. Finally.
