My daughter (older of two) sometimes wishes she were an only child... but only when her brother is bugging her. I know she enjoys having him around. My son, the younger, sometimes wishes he had an older brother, or a younger brother or sister. You can't win.
I'm the middle child of middle children - I have an older brother and sister, and two younger sisters. I enjoyed my sisters' company, but always wanted a room of my own. I think because two of my sisters were fairly close in age to me (one 2 years older, another 2 yrs younger), I tended to rely on them more as playmates, so I didn't have a lot of friends - at least, I had a few good friends, but not a whole lot of buddies. Or, maybe that's just my nature. It's hard to tell what is nature and what is nurture, or what place in the family, or how many kids are in your family - how all this affects your life. But, even though my family and I don't communicate with each other often (we all hate using the phone), I'm glad they're there. --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > 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 ______________________________________________________ Send your holiday cheer with http://greetings.yahoo.ca
