What it’s really like - Growing up with and without siblings?!

What it’s really like - Growing up with and without siblings?!

Here is a revealing conversation between a single child & his friend who has siblings. This is also proof that the grass always seems greener on the other side.

1. While the friend says, “You’re so lucky you don’t have any siblings to trouble you”
And I said, “I only wished I wasn’t this lonely with none to share my emotions if it wasn’t for my parents & friends”.

 

2. While the friend says, “Wow! You must be enjoying your parent’s undivided love & you get the best in everything”
And I said, “I only wished I lived a selfless life and I wasn’t this spoiled being so dependent on my parents.

 

3. While the friend says, “You get all the freedom you want in your life!”
And I said, “I only wished I had more self-confidence to work hard for what I deserve & lead a contended life.

 

4. While the friend says, “You must be so comfortable being alone without a brother or sister around, disturbing you”
And I said, “I only wished I wasn’t getting too comfortable being alone & not be socially awkward.

 

5. While the friend says, “You must be the happiest person, without having to share the resources you have for yourself”
And I said, “I only wished I had a brother to share my laughter & tears and be the first to teach me about being competitive”.

 

6. While the friend says, “You love your pet dog so much?!”
And I said, “I only wished I wasn’t so weirdly bonded with pets and that daunts me every time I lose one”.

 

7. While the friend says, “Oh you got such a good collection of books”
And I said, “I only wished I had a live companion with me to read out stories or hear from”.

 

8. While the friend says, “You are on your own trying out new things or adventures”
And I said, “I only wished I had a brother or a sister to explore much more challenging adventures coupled with fun”.

 

9. While the friend says, “Your hobbies are so unique and you paint so well!”
And I said, “I only wished I had a sister to vent out my emotions and not escape into another imaginary world all alone”.

 

10. While the friend says, “You stood on your own feet without relying on anybody”
And I said, “I only wished I had a brother to hold me when I fell a hundred times before I stood”.

 

11. While the friend says, “You have so many cute picture frames & photo collection of your childhood”
And I said, “I only wished I had a sibling right next to me share many nostalgic memories of my childhood”.

 

12. While the friend says, “Your parents are so attached to you and give you all the attention you want!”
And I said, “I only wished I had some of my own space out of parental involvement & their over-protectiveness”.

 

13. While the friend says, “Thank god, you won’t become an uncle (or an aunt) & don’t have to baby-sit any nephews or nieces”.
And I said, “I only wished I had an elder sibling with kids, so I can cuddle & squish them and play with them”.

 And so on...like these.

Now let me say something to those parents who are in the dilemma of having a single child or multiple children:

In recent years, deciding when & why & whom to get married has itself has become a tough one. And then deciding to become a parent is another major decision itself. Further, deciding whether to have another child is even harder than deciding on having the first one. So, prior planning on when & how many children to have are equally crucial!

Despite the power of information from the internet and knowledge through many parental blogs & articles – just a click away, there is NO perfect way of raising a child. The actual experience of being a parent (be it a single child or multiple children) is full of surprises and will only teach you way more than you read through all available material about parenting single or multiple kids.

Finally, whether you want to have just a single child or two or more children, 

1.    Always consider your current family dynamic
2.   Always remember your age – ever ticking biological clock
3.  Always  think about the mom’s mental & physical health
4.    Always keep in mind your financial situation
5.    Always keep aside the stigmas & social pressure

 "When you are a mother, you are never really alone (even) in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself & once for her child" - Sophia Loren

I would like it edited this way, "When you are parents, you are never really alone, even in your thoughts. A mother has to think twice while a father has to think thrice - once for himself, once for the mother & once for their child!

Art & Article by Swasthi

PS: check out my article on sharing the best of sibling bonds through simple flashcards!

Make sure to check out my other posts too for innovative ways to gift your sibling and sharing love with them.