Most people in the world grow up with at least one sibling but there's about 20 million of us in the United States (at least according to The New York Times) that are growing up as only children. Just like everything else, being an only child does have its perks, but it's also full of cons that not many people actually think about or consider. So, here's three cons and three pros for being an only child.
Pros:
1. They never say No.
When your an only child the chance that your parents are going to say yes is EXCEPTIONALLY higher. I mean, what else is their money going towards? You have no other people in your household asking for anything, so when YOU ask, they mostly say yes. Unless its unrealistic but with a decent pouty face you might get a change of heart.
2. No sharing.
On the one hand, it's a problem and that hand is probably a lot bigger than the other hand, because in life you'll have to share. But, if you realize that you might have some only child Tendencies in the future, you'll be just fine. In childhood however, you don't have to take turns doing something or holding the remote, or getting attention from your parents. You are literally free to do anything as long as you're not being a jerk about it.
3. You're always the favorite.
No matter what you do, your parents have NO ONE to compare you to, so everything you do is great. It's the greatest because no one's done it before you and no one's going to do it after. They can believe your like the next Einstein, because your older brother DOESN'T EXIST to prove them wrong.
Cons:
1. You're always the center of attention
Anything you say can and will be used against you at the dinner table. Everything you say is a reason for a lecture and no one is going to burst in with something more dreadful to save you. You have no one to look at and roll your eyes with, and you have no one to gang up with against your parents. It's an army of one, for your whole life.
2. You read. A lot.
Now, most people, would assume that's not a bad thing and it's not. Reading is great and you probably have a reading grade that's WAY above all your friends but if fictional characters are the only people you talk to after school besides adults, it gets kind of lonely. You progress in speech faster, talking to adults, and then BAM you're a little awkward talking to anyone your actual age.
3. Kind of selfish.
It's really hard to swallow sometimes but only children, myself included, are selfish. We can't help it! We're just used to always getting whatever we want, not sharing and being the center of attention so when we're thrust into a world were most people don't have Only Child Syndrome" we get pouty and mad. We're completely aware for the most part when our "Only Child" is showing but old habits die hard.
