Whenever people find out that I'm an only child, the first thing that comes out of their mouth is usually along the lines of, "OMG! You are so lucky. You must be spoiled rotten."
Newsflash: I am neither spoiled nor rotten. The definition of spoiled is to diminish or destroy the quality of something. Or, in regards to children, to harm their character. My parents did the complete opposite. Yes, being the only child in the house, I was granted with a lot of attention and love. On the other hand, I could never escape the attention and the spotlight always being on me. But, I was not allowed to do or have anything I wanted to, and certainly never acted out. My parents raised me to be a respectful, responsible, caring person and I never was a brat. There were plenty of times where my parents gave me things I had asked for, (a car for christmas!!) but I believe it's because they felt I had earned it, not because I was the only child, so I deserved it.
Everyone glorifies the idea of being an only child because it seems like you get everything you want, and you don't have to worry about sharing anything with a sibling. Newsflash #2: Being an only child becomes very lonely.
As a child, I learned to make my own fun. I spent many days in my room reading, writing, listening to music, all by my myself. My barbies and bratz dolls became my best friends. It felt like I was the only kid in class who was an only child. Whenever my friends complained about how their sibling annoyed them that morning, I couldn't relate. As an elementary school-aged child, it hurts.
Many people who have siblings always joke about how annoying they are, or how this wish they were an only child. Honestly, if you have a sibling, please be grateful to have them. Coming from someone with no siblings, they are an essential part of your life that you should not take for granted.
When I was younger, I didn't feel lucky to be an only child. To this day, I still think about how different my life would be if I had a younger brother or an older sister. But then, I realize that being an only child is a part of my identity. Although it would be nice to have a sibling, I wouldn't change my childhood for the world. I was raised by the best parents who taught me how to be my own person. I owe one hundred percent of my success to them.
But please, the next time you encounter someone who's an only child, don't assume they're spoiled rotten. If you ask me, the answer is no. But, am I lucky? Definitely.
