Why I Refuse to Have an Only Child
Having Grown Up Without Siblings, I Refuse to Have Just 1 Child in the Future
Since as early as I can remember, I've always wished I had a sibling. Part of the reason is inexplicable — just this longing that I've felt for a brother or sister my entire life — and the other part is made up of smaller reasons, mainly that all of my best friends and cousins grew up with siblings and I was never not envious. Because of the sense of loss I felt growing up an only child, I've always vowed never to have just one child myself.
Simply put, I'd never want my only child to grow up feeling the way I did — like I was missing out on something so huge and important. My best friend, Meagan — also an only child — has always felt as close to a sister as I'll ever get, and I know if I had an only child, they'd find their chosen siblings in truly great friends as well, but that just doesn't feel like enough. Some people who grow up as their parent's lone child completely thrive in being the one and only, but that wasn't my experience, and it may not be my child's either.
I'd never want my only child to grow up feeling the way I did — like I was missing out on something so huge and important.
I feel so passionately about having at least two children that before I met my boyfriend, I'd literally write men off after the first date if they noted that they'd only want one kid in the future. And while I fully understand (and think about often) that I could struggle with conceiving, that doesn't affect my personal decision in the slightest. Whether I'm able to have biological children or my partner and I adopt, there's just no way I can slice it where I see myself raising an only child.
All this said, here are even more reasons I'd never want to have an only child.
1 I want my kids to have a built-in best friend.
2 They'll be able to confide in each other.
3 Having a sibling teaches valuable lessons.
4 They'll have someone to reflect on their childhood with.
5 They'll have someone by their side in difficult times.
6 The pressure to impress and succeed would be divided between them.
7 I've always felt I'd thrive as a mom.
