Why didn’t your parents have more kids?
Divorced
Were your parents content with one child or did they want more?
Mom wanted a second chike
Did your parents feel pressured to have more kids?
Not sure
What was growing up as an only child like? What was your childhood like?
Isolated , grew up in a rural area, not a lot of kids near by didn’t know many only children other than myself
Did/do you have imaginary friends?
Now
Did you at some point, wish you had siblings?
Yes when I was younger
Did your parents have “the talk” with you about why you’re an only child?
No
Did you ever lie about having siblings?
No
Seeing most people with siblings, how do you cope?
I don’t know if cope is the right word? Because the people I know with siblings not all of them have a great relationship with them
Do you feel lonely sometimes? Would it be better if you had a sibling?
Sometimes but idk if it would be better with a sibling
Are you an introvert, ambivert or extrovert?
Introvert
Are your parents overprotective?
Mom is yes
Did being an only child affect your social skills?
Yes
What’s your personality type?
Intj
Is it easy for you to make friends?
No
Do you consider your friends your siblings?
Yes
Do you want kids?If so, would you like to have an only child?
I do have an only child
Does being an only child sometimes affect your decisions?
Yes
Growing up, how was your relationship with your parents?
Dad was in another state but mom was great and attentive
How is your relationship with your parents now?
Good
What did your parents do right and wrong, in raising an only child?
Tried her best to have me around friends but not enough emphasis on learning how to tolerate other folks quirks
What effects does being an only child have on your life (relationships, career) e.t.c?
Hard to tolerate other personality quirks
What are your thoughts on “Only Child Syndrome”?
It’s not true and sets negative perceptions when people find out you’re an only child
Growing up, did you get along well with older people?
Yes
Do you do well with kids?
Not usually
Are you spoiled? If so, in what ways?
Yes , with attention and resources for education and experiences
When was it the most hard being an only child, childhood, adolescence or adulthood?
Adulthood , as my parents /relatives age. I’m an only child and only grandchild on both sides
How do people react when you tell them that you’re an only child?
Depends on if they’re also an only child!
How do you feel about your birthday? Growing up, how did you celebrate birthdays? How do you celebrate birthdays now?
I am excited about my birthday my mom made a big party out of it every year. As an adult I still have a big party
Do you talk to yourself?
Yes
Which of these things is the most important to you? Privacy, companionship, alone time, attention.
Privacy
Who did you blame when you did something wrong as a kid?
Myself
What do you miss most about being a kid?
My imagination
What do you think is your best personality trait?
Patience
What do you think is your worst personality trait?
Being blunt or not empathetic
Do you enjoy being the center of attention?
No
Have you always been a “good child”?
Mostly
What life skills do you have, thanks to being an only child?
Patience and ability to be alone
Do you think being an only child affects mental health? If so, how?
You become self reliant early on and don’t learn how to depend on others
What aspects of sibling-ship makes you glad that you’re an only child?
The fighting for attention and resources
Do you think that there are few only children, compared to people with siblings?
Yes
Do you feel the pressure to be perfect?
Yes
Do you think you worry more or less about your parents because you are an only child?
More
Do you feel obligated to take care of your parents when they get old?
Yes
What are the most annoying things that people have said to you about being an only child?
You’re spoiled, you wouldn’t understand because you don’t have siblings, you don’t know how to share
What are things to NOT say to an only child?
Why didn’t your parents give you a sibling
What are the biggest misconceptions about only children?
That they are spoiled or not nice
What are the most “only child things” about you?
I like to be alone and be quiet
What stereotypes about only children do you not relate to?
Being spoiled or not being nice
What fears do you have, that stem from being an only child?
The pressure to take care of elderly family
What are disadvantages of being an only child?
Being lonely
What are advantages of being an only child?
Education! Attention from parents , opportunities to travel
What advice do you have for parents of Only children?
Make sure they have lots of opportunities to be around other kids but also opportunities to be alone to be comfortable with themselves
What advice do you have for only children?
You will find friends in life that love you and care for you like a sibling
Growing up, did you have pets? Do you still have pets?
Not growing up, but I do as an adult
How do you feel about how Only Children are portrayed in media? What are your favorite pieces of media with authentic representation?
I can’t think of any maybe Matilda? I think only children have extraordinary imaginations and that’s exaggerated in Matilda obviously
What’s your general outlook on being an only child? If positive, when did you start to like being an only child?
When I was in high school I started to see the value
If you had a choice, would you choose to be an only child?
No