Things I know: The only child

What do Robin Williams, Natalie Portman, Carry Grant and myself have in common? Well if you read the title to this blog entry then you already know the answer, we are all only children. So what does that mean other than the obvious fact that we have no siblings? Is it a stigma, a blessing or maybe both? So, google only child and you will find an array of answers. You may stumble upon Adler's theory, thanks to http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/eischens2.html. High achieving, motivated and successful children whom are conditioned to depend on themselves. You may also discover that this is a rapidly growing trend that although the percentage of families that have only one child have doubled in the last five years it also still far from the norm. (http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/aug/18/parents-reject-only-child-stigma/) You will also find the spoiled stereotype as well as other famous only children.

I love being an only child. I love my drive, my leadership capabilities, my independence. Yes I am aware that it is not only the single children families that spawn children that house these particular types of characteristics, however I am simply doing my research. According to http://www.thecutekid.com/parenting/birth-order-characterictics.php I am mature beyond my years, I push myself to achieve perfection leading to an ultimately self-demanding perspective. I am sensitive and unforgiving. These are all similar to the first-born child as well but often found to a greater degree in only children. This leads me to the inevitable question, am I spoiled as well? Probably but I dare you to define the word spoiled. 


Here is my defense of the only children of the world, we are so damn special that our parents only needed to have one child. Or we are so damn terrifying that our parents demanded no more children. I am going to side with the original statement but I am sure that the truth is found somewhere in the middle, as is usually found with most extreme arguments of any kind. 


From one sensitive, care-giving, mature writer to the rest of you, try not to be too hard on me, I have enough self-demands to go around. Did I mention that I am very close to my parents? 


Next time you find yourself wanting to assume something about someone based on their only child stature please keep in mind that they are among such American giants as Franklin Roosevelt and Elvis Presley.