Last night I spoke to Graham Torrington on the subject ‘Are Only Children Lonely Children?’ Graham is one of five siblings so it is always interesting to have his perspective, especially as his mother was an only.
If you would like to listen to the BBC Interview it may take a minute or so to load!
I think it is important, when I am interviewed, not to be drawn into absolute statements particularly those which suggest only child experience is all good or all bad. I believe all experience can be seen along a spectrum and I try to show this in the examples I give. In particular I challenge the so called only child syndrome and the only child stereotype without falling into the trap of dismissing it without any real argument to the contrary. As only children we all suffer from the view of the spoilt lonely, dis-functional, only child but as this website tries to affirm, even where it may look as if it is true, it’s often a result of difference in the experience of growing up without siblings.
For example I have written posts on so-called selfishness of only-children, problems of sharing, maturity, and the common concerns that adult only children face, as well as my 16 Top Tips for Parents of an only!
I also tackle relationships difficulties with parents, partners and certain topics like conflict, independence and psychological separation.
Based on my research ,I have looked at life stages for the only child to demonstrate that being an only child affects your whole life from Infancy to Late adulthood.
However the most important contributions are Life Stories which people send to me. They demonstrate the diversity of experience and yet similar themes flow throughout. See Ariana, Janel and Trooper and different perspectives from people who have been born in the early and late 20th century and 21st century.
Also a few famous people like Jenni Murray and Michael Winner and top fiction writer Lesley Thomson
So if this inspires you to write something yourself please click the CONTACT button above. I look forward to hearing from you.
