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Lonely only children - Are you an only child?

You are not alone I am here with you...

by Anonymousreply 21August 1, 2025 6:27 AM
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by Anonymousreply 1August 1, 2025 2:02 AM

I am the youngest of three. I adore my two older sisters. They made life bearable during childhood. I was never ever lonely with them around. We'd play all sorts of games and they always included me, even when I was annoying - which I must have been constantly!

I also loved being the only boy. No one punched me, I was spoiled rotten by both and their was never any pesky competitiveness between me and them. (Now, the two of them? Totally different story.)

by Anonymousreply 2August 1, 2025 2:56 AM

I had one brother who was seven years younger than me. I never thought he would die first.

by Anonymousreply 3August 1, 2025 3:06 AM

My mom once blurted out to me (the first born) that she actually wanted just one and my dad was indifferent, but everybody around them pressured them to have two and warned them that an only child will end up having Problems.

I never told my younger sibling this.

by Anonymousreply 4August 1, 2025 3:11 AM

I have one brother and a sister (I'm the middle kid - the Jan Brady if you will). I am close to both of them.

by Anonymousreply 5August 1, 2025 3:20 AM

Only child here and it was an incredibly lonely childhood. My parents were much older and that didn’t help either, so it was very hard to relate to kiss my own age.

Thank goodness for the internet to teach me social skills.

by Anonymousreply 6August 1, 2025 3:22 AM

4 siblings. Close to 2 of them. The older 2 not so much; there's always self-drama with one or the other of them. I'm just not close to the older 2.

by Anonymousreply 7August 1, 2025 3:31 AM

One sibling six years older. I was lonely

by Anonymousreply 8August 1, 2025 3:36 AM

I’m at the age where my only child friends are dealing with parents in decline. You really need to be there for them.

by Anonymousreply 9August 1, 2025 3:45 AM

I was an only child. It was very lonely, but I got by with a very active imagination and living inside my head, I lived with my single working mom and a grandmother soon to be in the throes of dementia, and between the two of them could have made Joan and Christina Blush, I had nice things, my mom was more concerned with me being in the clothing trends of the day then I was, but there was always a cat pissing next to my nice stuff. My two cousins always made time for me.

by Anonymousreply 10August 1, 2025 3:47 AM

I grew up as an adopted, only child. Then, late in life I discovered I had a LOT of biological brothers and sisters. It’s been interesting. If you’re adopted and wondering your whole life who your family is, be prepared for them to have far less interest.

by Anonymousreply 11August 1, 2025 3:55 AM

My younger brother and I are almost three years apart to the day. Having a sibling (provided you grew up together) gives you a shared history that bonds you forever, whether you want it to or not. There are things he understands about me and about our family that no one else could possibly understand in the same way.

For that reason alone, I am glad I grew up with a sibling, although it's the only way of life I ever knew so I can't comment on what it's like being an only child. I can say that I'm lucky that, as adults, we are best friends.

by Anonymousreply 12August 1, 2025 4:08 AM

I have brothers who are twins - 2-for-1!

by Anonymousreply 13August 1, 2025 4:09 AM

I'd take being an only child over the sibling fighting horror stories.

by Anonymousreply 14August 1, 2025 4:14 AM

R8 that sucks. You're too nice a guy to be lonely.

by Anonymousreply 15August 1, 2025 4:15 AM

We had a daughter (via surrogacy) and wanted her to have a sibling so we did it again and she has a little bro.

by Anonymousreply 16August 1, 2025 4:17 AM

[quote]I'd take being an only child over the sibling fighting horror stories.

I have two younger siblings. I like the middle one, dislike the youngest. The middle one is troubled by this dislike, which I cannot overcome. I've pointed out to him anecdotally that almost everyone in my friendship/acquaintance circle is also estranged from a sibling - it really isn't unusual, sad though it might be.

by Anonymousreply 17August 1, 2025 5:06 AM

Only child here. Life was great. It was the 50/60’s so played with all the kids in our street till it was dark. Played loads of sport to meet other kids. My mother was a bit ‘over protective’ of me until the day she died. I was a rough and tumble kid that also liked to cook and garden….yes my parents knew their cherub was different. Settled down with my fella and it’s been over 4 decades together.

by Anonymousreply 18August 1, 2025 5:42 AM

I loved being an only child because I was born in the 90s where there was already Nintendo and good anime. I used to visit my father after my parents divorced but as soon as he gave me half-siblings with my stepmother, I stopped going there. Other children = annoying.

by Anonymousreply 19August 1, 2025 5:58 AM

I have two half-siblings on my father's side, but I consider myself an only child because I was never a part of their lives. We saw each other at my dad's funeral and the son came up to shake my hand out of cortousy, but I was never even introduced to the daughter. Back to the question, I loved being an only child. It made me more comfortable being by myself, and entertaining myself, so I became a better student because I read more books at home.

by Anonymousreply 20August 1, 2025 6:01 AM

Only child and not lonely. I had an active imagination and neighbour friends.

by Anonymousreply 21August 1, 2025 6:27 AM
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