Siblings are something so many families take for granted. Recently, I went on a family trip with my mom and her four siblings, and although they do not always get along, they are always there to support one another. I took a step back and thought about how lucky they were to have each other. I always wanted relationships like that, but I like so many others, am an only child. Only children can bond on many things, in fact some of the best and most understanding conversations I've ever had are with only children. Here are somethings only children will always just get asked or accused of:

"So you must be spoiled since you're an only child right?"

Contrary to belief, no, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in hand. Actually I tended to be less spoiled because my parents knew that I would be the only kid using the items that I wanted and therefore the toys, clothes, or other unnecessary things would be less likely to be handed down. My parents, like so many other parents to only children, figured that since the toys would not be used enough that I should be thankful for the ones I had and if I wanted more I could do more things around the house to earn them. Now of course that didn't stop me from having a four page long Christmas wish gift and begging for a Barbie house, but I was content.

"Oh, you're an only child. Explains why you can't share."

I know this is a crazy thought but no, maybe I just don't want to share with you. Sharing to me has always been a weird topic in my life, since many assume that I wouldn't want to. Instead sharing to me is a way to bond with someone or show that I really care. Through my 20-plus years of being an only child I have found that I tend to be more giving of things or willing go out of my way to share because I want to know how it feels to share with someone that I love. That still does not mean I will give you the last bite of my McChicken, so don't ask.

"So your parents only wanted one kid, you must be perfect."

Sadly in my case, no, I am neither perfect nor was I intended to be the only child. Some only children were choices and are that way for many different reasons, this does not mean they were loved any differently or are any more perfect or flawed than children with siblings. My parents' case was that they desperately wanted more children but had a hard enough time getting me. I was asked by my older cousin one day who was facing the same problem my family did of being cautious of trying for another child. She asked me "are you mad at your parents for not giving you a sibling?" I was dumbfounded, in all my years of wanting another person there with me I never was mad about it. I simply replied "No, I'd rather have my mom in my life than just the possibility of having another sibling." In a perfect world I would love to be everything my parents wanted or have a sibling to blame for things going wrong but I've found my own way to be enough.

"It must be really hard for you to bond with people."

Honestly if I had one thing that I was thankful for as an only child is being so open. I had a lot of lonely days growing up but it allowed me to know myself as a person and to build up a lot of love to give others. Coming to college was where I decided to be a sibling to others. I went through recruitment and when people asked "Why do you want to go Greek" my simple and true response was I want sisters because I've never had any before. Though Greek-life may not always be an accurate representation of what it's like to have siblings, it's the best chance that I'll ever have. These girls that I have come to know as family have changed my life and have shown me many different sides to sisterhood and I'm lucky to have the opportunity to call them my siblings.