Bernice:
I received this email which resonated very much with me because ‘watching’ people was something I did from a very young age. I also used to have imaginary conversation with them whilst they were talking to someone else.
I was very shy as a child so found it hard just to speak to peers so this was a way of observing conversation with out the necessity of actually taking the risk to enter into it! I was fascinated by large families and yes envied them to some extent mostly the fact they could all play board games together and not like me, playing on my own. However I am also aware tht as I grew older having a sibling seemed less interesting possibility as I became more ware of some of the advantages, mostly economic, that I benefited from. However when I finally did my research on adult only children’s experience, I realised that for may people not having a sibling has always been a source of sadness, and something you became more in touch with as you get older.
Ashley has come up with some interesting questions which I hope people will feel free to respond to either in the comment box below or by email!
Ashley:
I am an only. I am 44 years old. I deal with sadness every day of not having a sibling, I don’t say anything to my parents because I don’t want them to feel bad, they are wonderful people.
I have five children 
five fabulous children! I worry and stress so much about their relationships with each other…my husband tells me they are normal. I try to worry less!
- I wonder if any other only children surrounded themselves with friends with large families, or studied sibling relationships from a very young age as I did?
- Does your heart break when something happens to your parents and you don’t have a sibling for comfort?
- Do you feel guilt because you have more than others? (in your relationship with your parents)
- Do you get mad when siblings (older, specifically my husbands) don’t appreciate each other?
