Whenever I talk about my childhood, everyone always asks me if I have any brothers and sisters. Until recently, I replied no, I had none. My father got remarried last year and now I have a two-month old half-brother, who is precious, and an 8-year-old step sister. But for the past 20 years, I was an only child. Many people felt sorry for me, saying I was denied some wonderful life experience. I disagree. Don’t get me wrong, my new family dynamic is great, but I never felt like I was missing something growing up. I had one of the greatest childhoods a person could dream of, and wouldn’t change one thing about it, and here’s why.
1. My parents were my best friends.
I never argued with my parents. Not even during my teenage years. Maybe it’s me, but I never felt a reason to. I never lied to them, or vice versa. We were always honest and protective of one another. We were a tight-knit family, and they trusted me completely. Being an only child meant building close relationships with my parents, and going over to friend’s houses, I noticed that lots of them didn’t have the same bond I had with my mom and dad. I’m thankful every day for the 17 years we had together as a family, and I still talk to both of them frequently, so we never miss a beat on each other’s lives.
2. Never sharing ANYTHING!
Those arguments over what show to watch on TV? Who got the last cookie for dessert? Who took whose favorite toy and wasn’t sharing? Yeah, never had that. I watched as much "Lizzie McGuire" and "Kim Possible" as I wanted, never had to share any of my games or dolls. And I’d even get two or three cookies if my parents were feeling nice (and they usually were).
3. Being independent.
I was left home alone for the first time at age 8. My parents were right across the street, but that was still a relatively young age to be home my myself. There was a huge amount of trust and responsibility, and from that night on I slowly became very independent. I relied on my parents for a lot, but they always told me I was my best asset in life. So I learned how to work the toaster oven, run the vacuum and dishwasher, and began to help them in day-to-day activities. I also didn't have any siblings to play with, so I was forced to rely on my own imagination and creativity for games, and I quickly learned I was fine all on my own. I became very self-sufficient and independent, and could not be more thankful for their trust and guidance as I face the next chapter in my life.
4. More life experiences.
As an only child, there is less justification to not take your kid on vacation. Sure, my parents went alone sometimes, but family trips were extremely easy. I have been able to travel to many different places in this beautiful world thanks to being an only child. It was a huge part in shaping who I am as a person because many of these were adult vacations, and I was forced to mature much faster. I am now more driven than ever to see more of the world.
So there you have it. I think it was pretty great life, but that’s just me. Now on to the next chapter of helping my dad change diapers!
