I'm an only child. Not a stereotype

Being an only child is tough in today’s world. It is a label you can never rid yourself of. I know it from experience.

What I don't know is when it became such a bad thing to be an only child. Jesus was an only child, and I don’t think I have ever heard anyone comment on how selfish or rude he was!

But from the moment the word ‘only child’ leaves my mouth peoples faces automatically begin to change. Their smiles turn to stiff upper lips and they usually say ‘Oh I wouldn’t pick you as an only child’, or ‘you’re the best behaved only child I’ve ever met’. Only last night one of my closest friends informed me that ‘I was the only ‘only child’ she could handle’ because I didn’t behave like a ‘normal only child’.

But how does a ‘normal only child’ behave? ‘The The Only Child Project, a blog dedicated to only children that attempts to break the myths and stereotypes around only children says "The extent of a child’s good or bad behaviour is dependent on the kind of nurturing they receive and the limits set by the parents for them. It is entirely within the parents’ control and ability to bring up a well behaved only child by offering them affection and attention that is balanced and nourishing rather than being lopsided and overwhelming."

So the behaviour of only children is one thing, but now according to researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, physicality is another. A report posted in the Daily Mail states:

"Children who grow up without brothers or sisters have a more than 50 per cent higher risk of being overweight than those with siblings, a study has found.

Researcher Monica Hunsberger, of the University of Gothenburg, said: 'Our study shows only children play outside less often, live in households with lower levels of education more often and are more likely to have televisions in their bedrooms.

'But even when we take these factors into account, the correlation between singleton status and overweight is strong.

'Being an only child appears to be a risk factor for overweight independent of the factors we thought might explain the difference.'"

So something else for people to use when they point accusing fingers at only children.

I know I had fun playing with my parents and getting involved with team sports- it is after all possible to be in contact with other kids when you are an only child, you can have heaps of friends, and find role models in your extended family- and when your parents are busy, you can play with your invisible friends! (Or was that just me!?)

Only children are not another race, nor do we want to be known as one. Instead of being known as ‘spoilt’, I think only children should be known as lucky. Lucky to be here, lucky to be close to our parents, lucky to be close to extended family and lucky that we don’t have to put up with siblings teasing us.  

Do you know any only children? Are you an only child?