Confession: I am not actually an only child. Call me a liar if you please, but I have lived the life of an only child the majority of my life so I feel qualified to call myself one. I do have two half sisters, but the age gap between the closest one in age is 18 years.
Being an only child has its perks—the guarantee of your own room, no unnecessary fights over the remote, no one sneakily taking your clothes—but this lifestyle comes with some drawbacks. Here are 9 reasons why:
1. Not knowing how to live with people in college
Bunk beds, snoring roommates, and music you didn't like was not a reality in the comfort of your own home. It's like an endless sleepover without supervision where the guest doesn't pack up and leave you to it in the morning.
2. Having to play board games by yourself
You know you spent hours playing Sorry or Trouble by yourself and picking a certain color as your favorite.
3. Not knowing how to play most board games or anything other than Solitaire
If it wasn't something you couldn't play by yourself or coerce your mom into playing, you didn't touch it. Which resulted in playing off your lack of knowledge about Apples to Apples as "not remembering."
4. Needing a lot of quiet time to function
Being around a lot of people for great stretches of time is a painful and hopefully avoidable experience. In order to be a decent person, we need to recharge alone.
5. Being called weird for reading all the time
Its not our fault we don't have a built-in guaranteed playmate
6. Being more comfortable with your parent's friends that people your own age
The people your age are so rambunctious compared to the laid back but composed people you're used to seeing around.
7. Talking to yourself shamelessly
And getting caught doing so. When there's no captive audience to hear you think out loud all the time that audience becomes yourself. Its usually a pretty interesting conversation, if that makes it any better.
8. Not being competitive
We never had to be competitive at home and it just didn't translate over to school, sports, etc. Sure, we may play sports and try to do well, but the natural drive to tear down whoever is in your way to victory is lacking.
9. Being the only kid at family gatherings
This results in becoming very close to Great Aunt Barbara. Not a bad thing since she makes great pies. It also results in # 6 above.
