Better to be an only child or a sibling?

[Beastie]

Is it better to be an only child or sibling?

Did you enjoy having siblings/being an only child growing up?

What do you feel about it now?

[King Gizzard]

Sibling

Would be lonely if you were a single child

[Smithy]

I think it's more beneficial for a child to have siblings

[InOne]

Have a half brother on my dads side. Hated him when growing up. Now we have nothing in common at all and never really talk

[Beastie]

Well I have 2 older siblings. I think the problem is there was 3 of us. Odd number = someone will get left out.

We did have some good times when we were kids though.

I think when I am older I would like 1 or 2 kids. Not 3 though because I don't want one left out!

Suppose there are ups and downs to both scenarios!!

[Kerry]

Was brought up as an only child even though I have two older brothers

I'd have loved to have brothers or sisters close to me

[Z]

I say have a sibling, on the basis that a couple of my good friends are only children and we once had this discussion and they both said that they had problems with personal space around other people; whereas as someone with siblings I do not have those problems. They're not good at sharing and they can't handle being around other people for too long before they want to be alone, I think being brought up with siblings teaches you to be more respectful of other people's thoughts/personal space etc.

[Beastie]

I would have loved to have a brother to be honest. I'm a girl and 2 older sisters wasn't really too good.

2 kids would be good. Don't mind if it's 2 boys, 2 girls or 1 of each.

Or of course an only child. Maybe an only child and a dog or something! lol

[Z]

Well I have 2 older siblings. I think the problem is there was 3 of us. Odd number = someone will get left out.

We did have some good times when we were kids though.

I think when I am older I would like 1 or 2 kids. Not 3 though because I don't want one left out!

Suppose there are ups and downs to both scenarios!!

I'm the middle brother (there are three of us), if anything it was more a case of two ganging up on one depending on the situation, I've had fights with both of my brothers, some with the other brother on my side, others where it's me versus the two of them; just depends really. I think three is a good number.

[Shaun]

in my experience only-children are attention-seeking, selfish and spoilt.

[hannah.]

I have 2 younger half sisters (one on each side), and I was an only child until I was 8. it was brilliant. I lived with my dad, and the sister on my dads side was born pretty much exactly a year before the one on my mum (who i saw every weekend)'s side, so I suddenly became very umiportant as far as I was concerned. then my step mum and little sister left my dad when I was 11, and up until very recently he slightly resented me for that, as me and step mum never got on.

only child ftw :bawling:

[Z]

in my experience only-children are attention-seeking, selfish and spoilt.

Definitely agree with this, it's obviously not the case for every single only child but I do think all only children display elements of those qualities to at least some degree.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

when you're young only child so you can get spoiled, but as you get older you definitely need and appreciate the unconditional love siblings can bring. And even if you haven't found love in your 100's you wont die alone cause your sisters will be at your side:bawling:

so basically if you have siblings lock them in a cupboard till you're in your mid 20's, and if you haven't got any siblings, aim to get rich so you can buy some later on :D

[Jords]

in my experience only-children are attention-seeking, selfish and spoilt.

No doubt about this.


Having a sibling, even if theyre a pain in the ass half the time, its great.
Itd be lonely being a single child.. although youd probably have strong mum/dad relationships.

[Beastie]

I'm the middle brother (there are three of us), if anything it was more a case of two ganging up on one depending on the situation, I've had fights with both of my brothers, some with the other brother on my side, others where it's me versus the two of them; just depends really. I think three is a good number.

Yeah growing up. Well.. I was in the same scenario. My 2 older sisters fell out and that. And we ran between each other. I like having my own space but I think it was good for me to have siblings growing up. Unfortunaly now... I am not close to my sisters. Well one has moved away. The other I still live with but we just don't get on. The only time we have together is that we both like watching Glee. So if I am not at work that is our hour bonding session where we watch it and talk for what.. like 5 minutes? Once we both have left home and go our seperate ways.. I will still keep in contact with my sisters, especially if they have any kids. Just unfortanely don't get on with them. Or when I do start opening up and getting on with them something happens and then an argument occurs.

I know that there are brothers and sisters who don't ever speak to each other.

I know if your mum and dad dies and you are an only child you may feel.. who can I talk to?? But hopefully they will have a partner/friend/other family to comfort them.

It's down to your own experiences. I think it's best if I just had 1 sibling. Or maybe my parents should have had a 4th child! lol But there are ups and downs.

You feel that there has to be unconditional love for family though whoever they are.

It's true. You can choose your friends but not your family! :shocked:

[Beastie]

in my experience only-children are attention-seeking, selfish and spoilt.

Not all of them are like this.

Hey.. some with siblings can be like this!

Mmm. to be fair.. when I was growing up.. there were 2 only children I was friends with. You are right. They seemed more selfish and spoilt than my other friend who had a sibling :S

But the only children grew out of it and are less selfish now.

I can appear selfish if I need time on my own :S my own space. But like 99% of people need their own space. I think it's because my family and that can be quite rowdy.. that I need somewhere to retreat.

[Princess]

My brother's been gone to China for a year and I don't miss him at all. Although I suppose when we were younger, he was handy to have around sometimes. I suppose it is better to have siblings but I suppose you're used to what you're used to.

[Smithy]

My brother's been gone to China for a year and I don't miss him at all.

Bitch





























I joke :tongue:

[Niall]

Sibling definitely. You wouldn't be lonely and you'd always have someone other than your parents that cares for you. :')

[Beastie]

No doubt about this.


Having a sibling, even if theyre a pain in the ass half the time, its great.
Itd be lonely being a single child.. although youd probably have strong mum/dad relationships.

Yeah I get on with my mum and dad more than I do with my siblings :S

As a kid.. I preferred my siblings to my dad. My dad was horrible. Now he is a bit better.

I think my mum is quite caring and considerate to everyones needs. My siblings and dad just bulldoze people down and aren't very considerate. I would say I am in between because I don't rely on anyone!! Apart from my mum for emotional needs.

[Kerry]

in my experience only-children are attention-seeking, selfish and spoilt.

In most cases I find them pretty introverted and shy. Then again I know many who are extremely confident and outgoing. I doubt very much wether if you're an only child or not has a huge affect. Lets face it, many will have other close family and friends around them.

[Shaun]

Not all of them are like this.

Hey.. some with siblings can be like this!

rather why I said in my experience then :thumbs:

[Niamh.]

sibling, I have 3 brothers and they're fantastic

[Beastie]

rather why I said in my experience then :thumbs:

Ok calm down then! lol

[Callum]

Sibling, I prefer. The people I know who are only childs are terribly spoilt. One girl in particular is spoilt rotten. Her parents let her get away with everything and buy her designer clothing and iPads/iPhones/BlackBerry's on a weekly basis.

[CharlieO]

It depends on the parenting because it has been really hard with me and my siblings because they have always been the 'popular' ones and always got better grades and im constantly compared to them and blamed for basically everything that goes wrong in our family.

I think I would have been better off as an only child.

[joeysteele]

I think it's good to have Brothers and/or Sisters,I have all much older Brothers so I really had the best of both Worlds, having older siblings but with me being born so long after the last one,it was like just being the only one too.

It's good to know you have them there though so I chose having siblings.

[ILoveTRW]

i wish i had been an only child

[Jordan.]

Sibling. I couldn't imagine growing up without my older sister.

[Ninastar]

Siblings because you need them to help you learn some basic things in life, like sharing and caring for other people. If you don't go to nursery and then you go to school not having learnt how to share your screwed. thats why people act like spoilt brats when they are an only child, its because they haven't learnt any other way.

[Doogle]

I'm an only child (Well my dad has another daughter but I've never met her) and I love it. My friends ask if I'm lonely or whatever but with all the technology we have, plus the amount I see my friends, it's not a problem.

[Mac Hiavellian]

For 10 years I was an only child so I just used to be the centre of attention, was/am quite selfish and didn't/don't communicate well with others. Then the sib came along and we can get on well but we argue constantly like any siblings despite the age gap. Tbh I think both have their negatives lol

[Z]

I argue with my younger brother more than I argue with any other person, but we also get on really well at times. It's nice to have a constant link to your childhood, somebody you can turn to when your parents are getting on your nerves that understands exactly what you're talking about - friends can only empathise to a certain extent. You learn to be more tolerant of other people if you have siblings, in my opinion. I think the youngest child is the equivalent of an only child in that they get the most attention and get away with the most; I think the eldest child is hardest done by and the middle child gets ignored a lot of the time - I say that based on my experiences as the second of three children and because of a couple of my friends who are also one of three siblings.

[Vicky.]

Having a sibling. I was so lonely til my sister came along :sad:

Then my brother came too :)

[Stu]

Out of all the people I know you can tell straight away which ones are only childs. Even the blokes are the clingiest, neediest people you will ever encounter in your life. Especially the ones who were literally fed this entire life business on a spoon from their mum right into their late teens and twenties.

Most of them have immense trouble breaking away and getting a jawb.

[LemonJam]

My sister's my best friend, I couldn't imagine life without her.

[Doogle]

All of these posts make me feel lonely now. :bawling: :tongue:

I'd hate to have a sibling. I love that it's just me. So much privacy, space, freedom & I'm spoilt. :D

[Lee.]

Sibling.. My sister is one of my best friends. Don't know what I'd do without her tbh!

[Suze]

I love coming from a big family, but not so sure what my six sisters and four brothers think.

[MeMyselfAndI]

I hate my brother & my sisters ok. But theyre over 10 years older so i basicalky am an only child & its awesome

[GypsyGoth]

Wanted to be an only child for ages, but over the last couple of years, it's been ok having an older sister.

[Lee.]

I love coming from a big family, but not so sure what my six sisters and four brothers think.

My god! That is a big family!

Your mum must have felt like she was constantly pregnant!

[Beastie]

I argue with my younger brother more than I argue with any other person, but we also get on really well at times. It's nice to have a constant link to your childhood, somebody you can turn to when your parents are getting on your nerves that understands exactly what you're talking about - friends can only empathise to a certain extent. You learn to be more tolerant of other people if you have siblings, in my opinion. I think the youngest child is the equivalent of an only child in that they get the most attention and get away with the most; I think the eldest child is hardest done by and the middle child gets ignored a lot of the time - I say that based on my experiences as the second of three children and because of a couple of my friends who are also one of three siblings.


Ey yes. I think I may have to agree with you there.

However from my experience having 2 older siblings. I feel the middle one gets away with most things. The oldest one is given the most responsibilities and the youngest ends up being overprotected because it's the baby of the family.

[Doogle]

From every middle child friend I've had, they've all said the eldest causes the most trouble and gets the attention, and then the youngest is the baby and is spoilt so also gets attention, yet the middle is left on their own a lot, which is quite sad. If I had 3 kids, I'd make sure to give them an equal amount of attention.

[Z]

I think the middle child probably gets away with more in the sense that a lot of the things they do get ignored in comparison to what the eldest and youngest get up to (in the three sibling scenario) but I am of course speaking in general terms.

[Jords]

Wanted to be an only child for ages, but over the last couple of years, it's been ok having an older sister.

I didnt know you had a sister Claudy, how much older is she?

[seanraff07]

Sibling. I have 2 sisters and yes they can be a pain in the arse but it would be weird without them.