Only Child vs Big Family
We had SS for a couple of hours last night & had to go through the usual rigmarole of what he would & wouldn't eat (sigh)
Anyway, my OH ended up making him a sandwich as he'd had a main meal at school using 3 different types of cold meat, cheese, sauce etc. I watched him eat it thinking back to my childhood when it was 1 slice of meat per person in a sandwich, mainly because being one of 4 kids money was tight.
I've thought before about the differences between only children & those with siblings, and with SS I'm sure that the behaviour I struggle with at time is often routed in the fact that he's an only child.
He's very used to getting his own way, being the only person that activities are planned around, whether it's deciding on what we'll be having for dinner or where we're going to go at the weekend.
I can understand why my OH wants to be able to give SS treats, but I worry that he's becoming expectant of them. He will moan whenever it's time to go home from something, expects us to have his favourite drinks & snacks in etc.
Would this be better if he had a sibling? I think it may have been as he would have learned better how to share from an early age - when we were at OH's niece's birthday on Saturday SS wanted to play with one of her new toys & seemed put out that she wouldn't just hand it over to him, or fit in with what he wanted to do.
On the other hand though, if OH had more than one child it would make things even harder for us I think - we're living in a 2 bed flat, which gets crowded enough on the weekends we have SS, so on balance I'm glad SS is an only child!
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Comments
I dont think it makes a
I dont think it makes a child learn how to share anymore than an only child. My son doesn't have a problem sharing, except when it comes to his sister of course, but my daughter has a hard time sharing with anybody, unless of course it's her idea. I think it's a combination of how they are raised plus their personalities.
At home OH may not have to deal with the struggles of sharing and always getting his way, but he will have to deal with these issues in other enviroments such as in school or in any activities he participates in.
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It's very easy to spoil an
It's very easy to spoil an only child. I think it's very common, there are usually consistent traits to oldest children, middle, youngest, and only children. Each has their positives and negatives. Only children have no one else to compete with so it's natural when they think the world revolves around them.
I think it is great for kids
I think it is great for kids when they are young but what about when they are older? My sisters and I do a lot together and I wouldn't want it any other way.
The only person I know that is a single child is SDs SF. He is a family less guy. His parents are divorced, he wanted a baby very badly (I was told by BM) and they did have one child. That child will have SD, I am glad for that. Being an adult only child would be loney, I think. We have 2 BSs and SD. I would like to have 1 or two more kids but I don't think I can afford it.