This is an interesting subject. It comes up quite often around our house. My daughter and husband are both ' only children' . I have 5 siblings! We discuss the affects that our surroundings had on us as we grew up. What we came up with is ' the grass is always greener on the other side.' :-) They would have wanted a brother or sister and I wanted peace and quiet! Ha! I have to agree, Bob ... I don't think being only or not affects creativity or genius. What DOES affect it is whether the creativity / genius is nurtured. Doesn't seem like Joni's parents hindered her in any way.
Heather At 08:21 AM 1/2/02 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: ><<michael benedikt poetically and beautifully describes the world of the >only child at this site below,>> > >Correction...Benedikt describes HIS world. > >As the parent of an only child, one of the things I constantly have to >battle is the stereotyping of an "only child" as spoiled, lonely, etc. My >son is neither of these things. > >This prejudice is no different than saying that I'm a certain way because >I grew up with two sisters. It's a ridiculous notion. We all grow up in >unique situations and circumstances, and to say "this is the world of the >only child" is just as insulting as saying "this is the world of the >Canadian child", or "this is the world of the red-haired child". > >No hard feelings, Shane...it's a common mistake. I don't think Joni's >genius was heightened or lessened by her being an only. > >Bob > >NP: Elvis Costello, "Other End of the Telescope" 5/15/96
