So Mr Bin and I have been discussing whether it is better to be an only child or to have brothers and sisters.
I am an only child and although I didn't mind it when I was small I started to have problems with it when I was about 13. I didn't like the fact that I was stuck in the middle of my parents relationship.
I think being an only child sucks.

Mr Bin however is one of four. He thinks having brother and sisters sucks too. He feels that he didn't get enough of his parents time, and he doesn't really get on with his two sisters.

What do you think is better?
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:15, 19 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

brothers (and sisters I presume)
mean there is someone to blame when you break something

the downside is, as the oldest you don't always get believed
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:19, Reply)

Being an only is ace!
I guess I know no different, but I did quite like being the centre of the universe.
It may have contributed to me being a bit nervous of other kids and getting bullied, but maybe that would have happened anyway because I was a chirpy little mong.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:20, Reply)

My problems may have been
because my folks have many issues of their own.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:21, Reply)

Well, mine too
but I don't feel that a lack of siblings made things any worse for me.
I have a mate who's an only and he said he's always felt desperately lonely. He's actually cross with his parents!
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:23, Reply)

I detested my younger sister when I was young.
Now I only detest her sometimes, like when she's being a short-tempered stroppy bitch. We're separated by the Irish Sea so we get on okay now.

I know my parents wanted two children. I don't quite understand why. Had I been an only child I expect they would have had the same expectations of me but I wouldn't have had the resentment that my younger sister got away with everything.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:37, Reply)

also
I used to wish I was adopted but I look just like my ma so I couldn't truly escape into that dream.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:42, Reply)

I look like both my parents
Mostly dad, but he still tells me regularly that somebody else is my father.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:55, Reply)

Have a number and set up a Battle Royale scenario.
The survivor will be an only child eventually.
( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:37, Reply)

good plan

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 21:09, Reply)

I'm an only child and I wish I'd had siblings.
I can't carry on my family name, I won't have any nephews or nieces and I didn't get to have that sort of bond, and I'm sure I wouldn't have been half as bored growing up.
( Lisette von Falcon, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:40, Reply)

Got one brother.
We didn't really get on as kids, but we're really close and have top nights out and go to gigs together these days.

And he loans me money.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:43, Reply)

Hmmm,my parents are very young,
my mum's siblings are only a few years older than me, I have quite a few cousins and a pretend nephew. So all-in-all maybe I haven't had the typical only child experience. Maybe I had an easy ride.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 18:54, Reply)

I'm curious
how parents decide to have more than one. Do they think "hey, this is a blast, let's do it again"? Or do they get hammered on vodka one Friday while their only child is at the grandparents' for an evening and BAM! they're back down Mothercare with a look of stunned resignation on their tired, drawn faces?
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 19:00, Reply)

I was a mistake
My brother was intended. They must have been idiots or masochists.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 19:02, Reply)

My mum said to me as soon as I was born
"Baby, you are an only child and you always will be."
She got sterilised at 28.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 19:03, Reply)

I always hoped that I was born from a human and alien and that someday my alien dad would come and take me away to his planet.
Of course now I know that it's my mum that's the alien and we're both stuck here.

Edit - just realised it's got nothing to do with the question but I thought I'd share it with you anyway.
( girlinthehole, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 20:09, Reply)

I have visions of you
standing in a field at night, staring at the sky, pining for the mothership. That makes me feel quite choked up.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 20:41, Reply)

You have no idea how near the truth you are.

( girlinthehole, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 22:06, Reply)

I'm youngest of 3 blokes
they have a couple of years between them, and I'm 5 years younger or so. They were complete cunts to me while growing up.

I have however grown up bigger and smarter than them, so I tend to get the last laugh.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 4 Jan 2010, 21:10, Reply)