Only children and only girl/boy shout out

[Dionysus]

Are any of you only biological (not including adopted, step, or half sibs) children?

OR

The only girl or boy in your age group?

1.Did you like it?

2.Were you lonely?

3.Were you spoiled?

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?

----------------

1.No!

2.Sometimes.

3.When it came to discipline...no way, but I was in other ways.

4.OMG I can write a novel on that.

5.Not that bad. I'm not the demanding and bossy type at all. I just get pissed whenever people mess w/ my stuff. I like to take my to too... few years ago, I really got shat on by my roommates at a retreat. One morning I spent like 20 minutes in the bathroom getting ready plus a 10-15 shower that used up ALL of the hot water...oops! It was like 7:30 am and 10 people in the cabin, we had to be somewhere by 8:30 and I was like the first person in the bathroom. Since I'm the only girl in my age group, I didn't have to deal w/ the bathroom situations back at home.

[33girl]

I'm an only child, and not only that, most of my cousins were much older than me.


1.Did you like it?
For the most part, yes. I am much more independent and unafraid of solitude than many people I know (my freshman roomie, who was from a family of 8 kids, wouldn't even eat at McDonald's alone) which I think is good, since I haven't ended up in crappy relationships or friendships just out of fear of being alone. I do wish I would have had sibs to help me through adolescence, and especially later dealing with my mom's illness and death. That's the time onliness really sucks, as you are the only person on earth to know what it's like to have your parents as parents.

2.Were you lonely?
Not really, I was pretty self sufficient, and I was one of those "gifted" children...so even if I had had sibs, I might have still been somewhat of a loner.

3.Were you spoiled?
$$ wise, definitely not. My parents grew up in the Depression and let me tell you, it took 2 years to wear them down to getting me a pair of Jordache jeans. Discipline wise, I think some people thought I was, but I think I ended up having more of a "friend" relationship with my parents when I got older than kids who were heavily disciplined. I was sheltered, definitely.

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?
N/A unless my dad decides to get married again...LOL

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?
I was fine in dorms and the sorority house. After so many years of being by myself, it was cool to have lots of girlfriends to borrow clothes from and hang out with. I take a long time to get ready, but I don't think that's necessarily an only child thing. I was always able to find places to have alone time. My job now entails working at my own pace - I suck at working in teams, period.

[winnieb]

I am a biological only child.

1. Did I like it? I loved it.
2. Was I lonely? No, I had plenty of friends.
3. Was I spoiled? I say no. I had the sames things all my friends had. But looking back--I had ALOT compared to most of my peers-- and even more when you facot in that my mom was divorced--so it was singe income household. I know several people that will tell you that I am very spoiled--but I don't think I was snotty about it.
4. Step/ Half siblings--- I have a half brother and a step brother. I never lived with either of them. My step brother is a "bad seed"--I still have issues with him--well, I have issues with the equality between the two of us--I get jack-sh!t from my dad.
My half brother though--that is a long story. He is 5 years olded than I am-- I never knew he existed until I was 13. He showed up at my dad's one weekend to meet him. (My dad signed adoption papers giving rights to the new husband) He maintains no contact with my dad--NONE!! However, we are very close and is a huge part of my life!!! Although my dad does not know that the two of us speak, let alone a very tight relationship.
5. Real World? I think I adjusted just fine. Freshman year of college I had roommate issues--she was crazy, it wasn't me.
Although life being married was interesting at first-- my husband is an only child also. It took some getting use to the idea we were both to having things our way. Now we have it all figured out.

-wendi

[polarpi]

Only biological child right here!

1. I liked it, but my mom also ran a day care where she had 12 other charges who were all about the same age as me. It was kinda lonely, but I enjoyed the chance to get really close to my mom.

2. See above

3. I was never spoiled...I was WELL LOVED!!!!

4. I have five step-sisters and two step-brothers from both my mom and dad's remarriages. I adjusted pretty well...I don't see the three step-sisters from my dad's remarriage very often, and I'm now the youngest from my mom's remarriage (the youngest of the four is 10 years older than me, and the oldest is only 7 years younger than my MOM!!!!) It's nice having siblings, and I don't really mind it.

5. I didn't have a hard time adjusting. I enjoyed sharing a room (as long as I got along with my roommate(s) and traveling out of town was no big deal. I studied abroad with 16 other people (one a sorority sister) and we were all close as brothers and sisters!

[tinydancer]

Only child here.

I liked it just fine!!

I was not lonely. I have a good imagination and could always think of things to do. Also, my grandmother taught me to read at about 4 and a half, so I amused myself with books. No surprise that I turned out to be a librarian.

Spoiled - YES. I was the only child and only grandchild, and my grandmother lived with us. My mother and grandmother did not cut me any slack on my behavior, however. But I could be taken anywhere and never behaved badly. I was definitely very sheltered.

I did not like my first year in the dorm, had a weird roommate for a month or so. Then moved to a private room. I liked that better. The second year I lived with a good friend from home. Next year she moved to her sorority house. I liked living by myself and still do.

[axotiger]

I am the only female child of my family... I have two older brothers.

1.Did you like it?
- yes most of the time, when they weren't beating me up [not REALLY beating me up, but ganging up]

2.Were you lonely?
- no , i was a tomboy growing up, so it was all good... into sports and the works... couldn't understand prissy girls

3.Were you spoiled?
- eh.. debatable, I was the only girl... and the youngest, so i was 'daddy's girl', and mom's ONLY girl... so she loved to take me shopping [which i dont really like all that much] and my dad loved to coach all my sports.
- but as for money... i think my mom WOULD spoil me, if i let her. I HATE spending money... i'm, oh how shall i say it... thrifty... [or maybe cheap]. I love a good bargain.

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?
------------

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?
- PERFECTLY FINE... i shared a bathroom with 2 boys for my whole life... and they're about as messy as ALL the girls who shared the communal bathroom [and we had maids in the dorm which was good]

[ksig600]

I am an only child...

1.Did you like it?
It was alright, although somtimes I wished for a sibling

2.Were you lonely?
Sometimes, but I made up for no siblings by making lots of friends

3.Were you spoiled?
I wouldn't say so, but others would. Its easier getting all of your parents money and affection when there is only 1 child.

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?
N/A

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?
It was difficult, and I am still adjusting. I had to adjust to sharing and compromising (something you don't learn as an only child). Sometimes I still want things my way, but i'm less adamant to be angry about it if it doesn't go my way.

[aephi alum]

I'm an only child. I was also the only girl of my age in my neighborhood. (Lots of boys though.)

Didn't really like it - it would have been nice to have a little sister, or an older brother to beat up anyone at school who bothered me But it did mean I got my own room, no questions asked.

Was I lonely? Kind of. I had my friends, but none of them lived within walking distance, so planning play dates took some work.

Was I spoiled? In some ways. My parents did spend quite a bit of money on me, but also disciplined me severely - sometimes for stupid stuff - and were very reluctant to grant me permission to do things like wear makeup, carry a house key, or drive the car (I wasn't allowed near the driver's seat until I'd had my license (not my permit) for a couple of months!)

No adopted or step sibs.

In the real world - it was a little strange suddenly living with so many strangers my age, and being away from my parents (I'd never been away from them for longer than a week and a half at a time) but I got used to it pretty quickly (all except my roommates from hell - but that got handled when I lucked into a single, hehe)

[astroAPhi]

1. Did you like it?
Yes, because it provided a lot of opportunities for me that normally I wouldn't have been able to have, but I did always wish for an older brother. I thought that maybe he'd beat up mean ex-boyfriends!

2.Were you lonely?
Yes. My parents worked long hours, but I had some good friends nearby that I would pass the time with. I also had my puppy, Princess, to keep me company.

3.Were you spoiled?
What only child isn't? Figure into the equation that I'm also adopted, my parents were so thankful for me it wasn't even funny. However, I never asked for much, and I appreciated every single thing they did for me. If anything, I was spoiled by love.

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?
N/A

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?
I learned that I really appreciate my privacy. I need my own room. I need a place to escape from others and have some "Nicole time". I was always pretty good with sharing, but privacy was usually an issue. I also don't like being crowded! I like to spread out and cramming all my stuff in a dorm sucked!

[FeeFee]

Originally posted by Dionysus
Are any of you only biological (not including adopted, step, or half sibs) children?

OR

The only girl or boy in your age group?

1.Did you like it?

2.Were you lonely?

3.Were you spoiled?

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?

I am an only biological child.
Did I like it? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Lonely? Sometimes.
Spoiled? Naw, just greatly loved.

[DigitalAngel126]

Only child!!! I am adopted, but it was at birth.

1.Did you like it? Of course!!! It was the bomb!! And it helped with a lot of things when I got older.

2.Were you lonely? Nah, never lonely.. But along the lines of AstroAPhi, I did always want an older brother!

3.Were you spoiled? Oy, like you wouldn't BELIEVE!!!

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along? Let's not talk about it, shall we?? LOL, Honestly it's not too bad...we're far enough apart in age, it's like ... it was before

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)? Fabulously..I was used to having to deal with stuff without someone my age to fall back on 24/7... I enjoy going places by myself, I have my own apartment by myself.. Roommates piss me off. LOL

[DeltaSigStan]

I am an only child of divorced parents, which sucked after a while because my dad got remarried and wanted nothing to do with me at the time, and my mom and myself had little money to pay for stuff.

I think it taught me responsibility a lot better. I was doing laundry at age 8, I found a job really early and was buying my "wants", I moved out one my own my first yr of college when I could have stayed at home and our house was less than 3 miles away. Not that that makes me special, but I think I matured a lot faster having to be da man o da house.

[ChiOJenn78]

I was an only child for 20 years, until my parents had my brother(they had tried for a long time; fertility problems, etc)

1.Did you like it?
Hell yes I liked it. I would go over to my friends' houses and they would constantly be fighting with or yelling at their siblings, and I was always so glad I didn't have to deal with that crap.


2.Were you lonely?
Sometimes-but you learn to make friends or amuse yourself.


3.Were you spoiled?
Yes. I was. And now, whenever I'm acting bratty( cuz that only child comes out now and then) my mom and my fiance's favorite thing to make fun of me is to whine " Ugghh, lobster again??". I whined that once when I was little because my mom cooked lobster alot and I was tired of it. Now I love it! But anyhoo...


4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?
My parents had my brother when I was 20, and I was not happy. When they told me, I cried so much that my ex's mom thought someone in my family had died. I didn't want to not be an only child anymore!! After I while, I got over it, and now my brother and I are so close!!

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)?
Adjusting wasn't a problem really. I'm pretty laidback, so unless you were totally heinous and pissed me off daily, I go talong with anyone.

[LXAAlum]

Originally posted by Dionysus
Are any of you only biological (not including adopted, step, or half sibs) children?

That would be me.

OR

The only girl or boy in your age group?

1.Did you like it? For the most part it was just fine growing up as an only child, especially for the first 12 years, I was also the only grand and great-grandchild. I now have something like 12-18 cousins/2nd cousins

2.Were you lonely? Nope. Had plenty of friends, and, I also was able to entertain myself. Most of my hobbies were individual-oriented, so rarely was I lonely.

3.Were you spoiled? Not at all. Maybe just a little by my grandparents (I say a little, because my kids ARE spoiled - rotten, by their granparents).

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)? I always had pretty good roomates - and had to lodge with others on plenty of debating trips, and we always had fun, very little conflicts - nothing that would be attributed to me being an only child.

[AUDeltaGam]

I am an only child

1.Did you like it? YES!!!

2.Were you lonely? At times, but I have always found ways to entertain myself!

3.Were you spoiled? I'll say the same thing someone said above... I was WELL LOVED

4.For those w/ adopted or step sibs, how did you adjust when they came along?--------

5.How did you adjust in the real world (dorms, roomates, lodging when out of town)? I never could get used to sharing a room, since I had never done it before. So in the dorm, I probably wasn't the best roommate, but I tried! So my sophomore year, I moved into an apartment and got my own room!