I was an only child for 10 years then my little brother was born. There is very little bonding between us, because of the age barrier. We are just now getting to the point were we have somethings in common. Im 25 and he is turning 16 this month.

The strange thing is, that both of us are like single children, because we had 2 different lives. He was a little child and stayed at home, I was a teenager who was at school all day and then played sports and went out on the weekend. I then moved out when I was 18. When I was growing up I had several neighborhood kids to play with, and he dosen't. He plays alot of video games, and finds ways to entertain himself

 

I'm UNFORTUNATLY an only child....

Sure you might get all the benefits when your younger (no fighting for attention, spoiled, etc, etc) but once your older and none of that stuff matters, its boring being by yourself.

Both my mother and father have siblings and everyday I wish I had some as well. Its going to suck when they are both gone and I'm the only one left with no immediate family

 

I have an only child. Granted he is < 2 years old and we might have another, but I am always going back and forth on whether only children are better off. I am one of 5 kids and I was never big on huge families so I am thinking my kid might be better off so we can concentrate all of our attention on him.

 

That's a great attitude. IMO a lot of behavioural problems in children result from parents simply not spending enough time with their children to give them guidance and nurture them.

I'm an only child and have always been fine with it. I'd argue that being an only child isn't exactly what I'd call the apex of western civilization but I was never spoiled (I grew up lower-middle class) and I was never bored.

 

I would actually have to disagree. I think the problem with kids these days is that parents are too obsessed with their kids. They're willing to do anything for their kids and it nutures the idea to the child that the world revolves around. Parents are willing to expend all of their energy to give to their child what they never had...the end result is a kid who thinks he deserves everything. just my two cents.

 

Wait 5 years.

 

I agree that a lot of parents give their children a lot of things which is different than giving them time. I have yet to come across a parent who spends too much time with their child. I agree that a lot of narcississtic children are being raised on this continent.

 

that sounds about right

 

My belief is that children in large families might not always get enough attention or "individual instruction". I honestly would love to teach my kid everything I know.....there is plenty of sh!t that my parents never taught me and alot of those things could have helped tremendously. I guess there just pro and cons like anything else, maybe we just get a dog instead of having another kid, I always wanted a little german shephard puppy.

 

True dat. NOTHING wrong with young LEGAL tail.