Having an only child..

For whatever reason last night, Tyler said that people between the ages of 27 and 36 are the happiest when they have their first child. Most people by then have their finances in order, most of their goals accomplished, and just all around more mature. He also said that he only wanted one. It'll be my first, his second. I'm okay with that. I want to be able to give all of my attention to one child. I know a lot of only children. Each of them is different. I looked up statistics about having only children. I was just curious as to what the advantages and disadvantages are. I was surprised at some.

Stigmas of the only child:

• The only child is selfish and spoiled
• The only child is lonely
• The only child is more agressive
• the only child has more of a tendency to play with imaginary friends
• The only child is sickly
• The only child is needy and clingy
• The only child will have problems socializing

Traits of the only child:

• Close to parents
• Self-controlled
• A leader
• Mature
• Dependable
• Demanding
• Unforgiving
• Private
• Sensitive
• Mature beyond their age

Disadvantages:

• Too much pressure from parents to perform well
• No one to grow up with- it would be more fun with brothers and sisters
• Loneliness
• Too quiet in the house after bein outside playing with friends
• Worried about being the sole caretaker of elderly parents
• Pressure to have children to carry on the family name
• Overprotective parents
• Harder to make friends
• Will never have nieces and nephews

Advantages:

• Glad to not have to deal with siblings
• Have friends who are like brothers and sisters but don't have to live together
• Very attached to parents, have a great relationship
• More awareness of self
• Have more help pursuing goals
• More independent
• Have parents undivided attention
• Don't have to share
• Don't have to compare myself to siblings
• Don't have to fight parents for conversation

I just thought this was all interesting. Like I said, I am happy with our decision to only want one child. Carter will always be in the picture, but as far as physically existing childre, one is our limit. We think of it like how we have JJ as our only cat. He gets all the attention that he wants and does not have to share. Yes, he gets bored whenever he doesn't have another cat to play with, but he loves being our boy. This is not to say that if we had more that one child unplanned that we would not be happy, but we are doing all that we can to only have one.