Why do people have misconceptions about only children?

Question

like they're all spoiled and lonely and sad. I notice so many siblings that hate each other. I don't even speak to my sister. She's 11 years older and a mental case. lol.

Answer 1

It's like any other sterotype- people's ignorance just perpetuates it. I was happy to be an only- I see how my friends fight with their siblings, even into adulthood. Who needs that?

There are spoiled only children, and there are spoiled children with siblings. One does not follow the other.

For the record, I definitely did *not* get everything I wanted! Yes, I got a lot of my parent's attention and time, but as for material things, not at all.

Answer 2

They get bad PR. So many stories of people who go wrong have the lines "...was an only child." It's not true of ALL only children, but that is how misconceptions grow. Only children need some good role models to exploit.

Answer 3

My daughter is an only and will be an only and I have made sure she knows the world does not revolve around her.  Its like having misconceptions about adopted children too.  People are not educated in what they are saying.  I take my daughter to places where she gets to serve in a ministry and she loves it.  She is 5 and already learning how to share and give to others. God Bless!

I have a clowning and puppet minstry that we go into hospitals and orphanages and nursing homes to share the Love of Christ.

Answer 4

Hi there! I'm a 28 year old 'only child', so I thought I'd give my take on this! Growing up, I was very lonely. I HATED not having a sibling - actually, I STILL do. It was hard to watch my friends get to have brothers and sisters that they got to play with and share their whole lives with. A friend can never take the place of a special sibling bond in my opinion. I used to beg my parents for a sibling, but they said no, because they wanted to be able to give me everything. This used to make me sad and I'd cry every night saying that I'd trade all my 'stuff' in for a sibling. Unfortunately, I never got one. I believe that being an only child, I was spoiled, because I got everything I wanted. I was also really shy around other kids, because all my interactions were mainly with adults. I think I did mature much faster because of that. I was always thinking of consequences at a young age and I was a goody-goody who never got into any trouble.

I'm married now. My husband has two siblings, so I luckily have a brother- and sister-in-law, but even that doesn't make up for it. I watch my hubby and his siblings - they have such a great bond and they have all these memories. I don't have anyone to look back with. It's just me, and I hate that feeling.

My hubby and I are TTC our first child. We're planning on having at least two, because I could never put someone else through what I went through.

I know some only children loved being the only child, but I'm sure many feel the way I do. I think some of the misconceptions about only children are usually true, because, being an only child, you grow up with just adults and you are usually given everything you want. Just my opinions! :)

Answer 5

Yea i have always heard an only child gets whatever they want, spoiled and all that. I have only one child and that is not the case with him. He does not get all he wants and he is not spoiled.

Answer 6

because allot of only children are very straight up about it.

Answer 7

I am thinking of not having any more children than the one I have already, so I was wondering about this myself.

I think it is because a lot (not all) of only children (2 of my cousins included) are the center of their parents' world. Therefore getting mostly everything material that they want. Two out of three of my "only child" cousins, girls, are pretty bratty, I hate to say it. I think it's mainly because of how their parents raised them though. The other only child, a boy, is a really great kid. Very polite, and not always trying to be the star. His parents raised him well, and didn't always give in to his material desires, so I really think that's why he turned out so well.

I think all of the stereotypes are that they are all spoiled, etc is because the bad kids stick out in people's minds the most, not the good ones. You always remember the apple with the worm in it, but you hardly ever think about the great apple you had. Or something along those lines. ;)