Attention-seeking, spoiled, narcissistic, and impatient are only a few of the ways only children are portrayed in pop culture. As an only child I have experienced many stereotypes throughout my life, many of which may be true. Yes, I can be all of those things sometimes but I believe that everyone can have those personality traits no matter the style of family they grew up in.

1. I don’t get all the attention.

This can be good and bad. Personally, as much as sometimes my parents drive me crazy I’m glad that they bug me about my life because it shows me how much they care.

2. I am not the parent.

I grew up living with both my parents and I always felt very close to them. However, as my mother has to remind me, I am not on the same level as them. They are the parents and I am the child so it is okay for them to do certain things that I cannot no matter how old I am. This gets very annoying sometimes but is in fact a very real part of being an only child.

3. I am not spoiled.

Yes, my parents dote on me and buy me a good amount of things, but I am by no means spoiled. I was raised with an intense work ethic. My parents raised me to work for what I wanted and to not expect any handouts from anyone, including them.

4. Alone time is a necessity.

I love being around people and being involved in activities, but I cannot go a day without having some scheduled time alone. I believe that every person needs alone time in order to function, but only children probably need it a little more than others.

5. I want a big family.

While I loved growing up without siblings (most of the time) I want a really, really big family. I want a lot of kids and a lot of nieces and nephews. While this might not happen for me, I can at least hope.

6. If my parents need something, it is all on me.

For some this might not be a concern yet, but as time went on I began to realize that I was responsible for making sure my parents are taken care of when they can’t take care of themselves. It could be as simple as teaching them to use Facebook, but it can also be giving them money for groceries. It’s a lot of pressure but seeing as how much my parents have done for me, I am grateful to help out.

7. I talk to my mom not once, but multiple times a day.

My mom is probably my best friend and if I don’t call her (and my dad too) I almost feel guilty. More importantly, my day is not the same without talking to my parents and seeing how they are doing.

8. “Didn’t you want siblings?”

When people ask me if I wanted siblings my immediate answer is no. However, it sounds a little self-centered saying that so I have to balance out my answer a little. At some points I did really want a sibling (an older brother who would be protective, caring and unrealistic) but most of the time I did not want anyone around.

9. Impatience is a virtue.

Attention was always readily available and there was no need to wait for anything. While this is not a flattering characteristic, it’s just a part of the only child syndrome.

10. I can be very creative.

While I am not always creative I can have random moments of being extremely creative. As a resident assistant for a first-year college dorm I had to decorate our hallway based on a theme. From making a tree out of paper to making ruby slippers and lollipops I got very creative. Since I didn’t have many kids my age around me when I was growing up I had to be able to daydream and think of different ways to entertain myself.

As an only child I may have developed some unflattering qualities but I also became more open-minded, friendly, and outgoing. My parents did an excellent job at raising me with good morals, a strong work-ethic, and an open-mind. While there may have been a few very brief times that I wanted a sibling, I was, and am, very happy to be an only child.