February 28, 2008...1:20 pm
Only Child Syndrome is real and I cannot stand it. Someone prove me wrong. Please.
Jump to Comments
I grew up with three brothers and sisters in the same house as me, and three other sisters that I didn’t see very much. I may have middle-child syndrome, but there is nothing worse then being an only child. EVERY only child I have ever met I seem to have issues with. Let’s break it down.(Maybe it wasn’t clear before but I am not an only child, I am a middle child. Also, I am fine and don’t need any outside superior being to wake up in the morning.)
- Middle- Child syndrome: So… we may need attention a little more then the average person, but we usually can give it to ourselves somehow. We are use to it. We entertain ourselves and actually know how to interact with other human beings. My mom was also a middle child, and I think that helped me a lot growing up. I am the type of person that will talk to strangers on the bus, or at a concert. My mom taught me veer to the right when walking towards someone. Open doors for people. Say “Yes,Ma’am”, which I don’t really. I was so use to following my siblings that I never had to think for myself. Then they were gone. My brother was up and out at 16. Then I was left to my sister. We just grew apart in the every way possible. I had to start thinking and acting for myself. That’s when art came in. It was the only thing that was mine. I mean, everyone in my family writes. EVERYONE. I use to sneak into my moms room and read her journals. Which, by the way, I don’t recommend to any child to ever do. It can be a lot more information then you ever wanted. ( I am probably going to have to come back to this topic another time. )Click here for actual info —> http://www.essortment.com/all/whatismiddlec_rsoe.htm
- Only-Child Syndrome: You can spot an only child from across the room within 5 minutes. Unless they were raised under some very unusual circumstances that would exclude them from the Only Child rule, then they are like a zebra standing in a herd of Buffalo. It is their way or no way. They won’t go out of their way for anyone and they only care about themselves, even in relationships. I see it all the time. When I was in middle school my best friend was…let’s say…Hilda. ha. I make myself laugh. Okay well, Hilda was an only child and you know that rule when your little, ” she’s the guest let her pick what you two get to do” ? Well, Hilda didn’t like that rule, so she changed it to, ” It’s my house. If you are not having fun then leave.” We were best friends on and off for a few years but in the end, I always hated her. I hung out with her because I could spend a week at her house and our moms wouldn’t care. Don’t get me wrong. We had fun, but we were complete opposites and I couldn’t stand to see the way she treated her mom. Not that I was a saint. My mom and I had are years of hell, but that was later when I was older. Anyway, that was my first experience with an only child. It only gets worse from there. A few nights ago some friends of mine were all hanging out and we got to talking about an only child that we know. ( gossip is wrong I know…get over it) But seriously, this girl is the biggest brat I have ever met. I have had to work for the majority of everything I have ever gotten, and this girl ( we will call her Gia) is a pre Madonna in every way possible. She is the kid that has to ask her mom for money even when she is 20 years old. Come on, grow up, get a job. We all did it. I worked two jobs through high school, I think you will survive. ( I am writing another blog about that one too ) I don’t know. I cannot stand to see people just get things handed to them on a silver platter…………… I am not sure I totally agree with this link considering the only children I have come into contact with, but it is some info —>http://www.essortment.com/firstbornchild_rsod.htm
8 Comments
February 28, 2008 at 1:32 pm
i couldn’t agree more! im an only child too! Welcome to the club! i know it sucks BIG TIME. Thing is… some peeps thinks that being and only child is like being a special child with special needs. Lets say the ever famous word ” brat ” , ” spoiled ” , etc. well… yea as for me, being an only child… well yea i usually get what i want when i was a kid and im a daddy’s girl. My advice… be yourself. I know sometimes we tend to have a very strong personality.. well most of the time. But what can we do? this is ” US ” if he / she cant stand it… so what?! right?
cheer up!
February 28, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I’m an only child. Not a completely ideal childhood, but overall used to fit your only-child stereotype. The basics anyway.
As a believe in God things changed the last few years. Most of the things aren’t indicative of me now. Fortunately, because your description of the only-child is fairly ugly, though not false. God is about community and sacrifice in particular ways. the result of that is learning you don’t live only for yourself. It’s good!
Wish i had siblings though.
February 28, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’m an only child married to an only child - and somehow, a couple of my closest friends are also only children.
Two fit your description perfectly…I do have a caveat to this rule though:
If you’re an only being raised by narcisstic parents (ahem) you are actually being raised by people training your solo journeying self to RARELY think of yourself. It’s all about them somehow. So I grew up feeling guilty making things about me…not saying I’m a martyr - I can be as selfish as the next - but not in the same vein as portrayed in your definition.
But that said, you’re spot on…great blog, BTW.
March 1, 2008 at 4:09 am
Hey…
Felt good to go through your blog…I am an only child and I never knew we irritate people that way..!! You are not entirely wrong about our persona but neither are you entirely right..Only children always get what they want and are used to the attention they get from their parents…So naturally, they expect (read demand) the same from everyone around them…And they can go to any lengths to get what they want and be however they like..So, thats the way we are… And you have to live with that… So RELAX…!!
March 5, 2008 at 7:11 am
Well, I can’t give you advice, cause I’m the only children in the family but I think that all this sindroms are only in your head, so clear it from them
March 14, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Actually, I have to agree with the original author who was talking about the only-child-syndrome. This syndrome even seems to apply to the youngest child too, especially one that is separated by several years from the next oldest child in the family.
And….the responses left by some of the only-child people here are so indicative of the only-child’s way of thinking—”my way or the highway”…I don’t even think you realized it :0)
I’ve had 2 serious relationships with people who grew up in an “almost-only-child” environment, where their older siblings were already almost 10 years older than they were, so naturally, they reaped all the benefits once their older siblings were old enough to get jobs and be independent. Let me tell you, it is DIFFICULT living with certain personality traits of an adult who was VERY spoiled as a child. As well, I have several friends who were only-children. These adults most definitely have unique personality traits that can be spotted with 5 minutes of meeting them, and I’m really not out to insult these people, but seriously, they need to learn to be adults sometimes…:0)
Here are some observations I’ve noticed:
I find it’s hard for them to empathize with you when you’re sick, upset, angry or very happy. They either stare at you with seeming incomprehension or they just leave the room. Like wtf……………..
Your joy in your successes in your job or personal life will not be shared.
Be prepared to lavish attention on them for every small accomplishment (like remembering to take out the garbage).
“Work” does not seem to be in their vocabulary.
Bedroom activities revolve around them.
If you’re a good cook, and you start out the friendship/relationship as being the cook during get-togethers, your only-child friend will gladly settle into that arrangement, along with you paying for all the supplies. :0)
Your only-child friends can gripe about the same small issue for weeks, but if you’re on death’s doorstop with a flu virus or extremely pinched for time for a work deadline, the same time that you gave them will not apply to you. Any small comment about how you feel will be dismissed or ignored. *see note #1*
If your only-child boyfriend/girlfriend/best-friend has suddenly decided to lavish attention on you one day, ask yourself what they are looking for in return.
So…….be prepared to put your foot down firmly regarding certain issues when it comes to your ex-spoiled friends. If they made the choice of restaurant/movie/event to go to last time, somebody ELSE in your group will make the choice this time. If you need 5 minutes to vent about something, tell them to sit the hell down and try being considerate when they start shuffling in their seats. And make SURE they pay their half of any bill when it arrives.
March 14, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Wow, I am ecstatic that someone finally agrees with me! Especially the amount of detail they went into to agree with me. I love it.
June 6, 2008 at 7:49 pm
That description of only children is right on the money.
Leave a Reply