Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates

Today, there are over 14 million only children in the United States, and I am one of them. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that’s about 20% of all kids. Some of my friends are also part of that group, and some are not.  There are definitely pros and cons to being an only child. I count independence, sense of self, and a close relationship with my parents among the pros. Lonely play time and bearing the weight of family issues alone are a couple of the major cons. Although I never experienced sibling dynamics firsthand, I’ve watched the relationships my parents and friends have had with their siblings for many years.

Just like the existence of siblings at all, there are positives and negatives to number of siblings, gender, age difference, etc . My mom is the middle child, with two brothers. I’ve heard horror stories from childhood of decapitated dolls and endless teasing. But, I also know that my grandparents didn’t do much to stop either one of those activities. As an adult, my mom’s relationship with her brothers has been much like a roller coaster. There have been many times when I have shaken my head in disbelief at the lack of appreciation they show for her and for one another. If only they knew how lucky they are to have one another.  I know that some issues run deep, but at the end of the day, there’s still love there somewhere.  That said, I have to give my uncles props. Since my mom got sick, they have been nothing but supportive.

On the other end of the spectrum, my dad and his brother have always been pretty close. They’re only a few years apart, and they chose the same career. Although they have pretty different personalities, they can relate to each other well. Coincidentally, they both ended up having only children less than a year apart, and their ability to relate to one another was passed along to me and my cousin Adam. It’s not surprising that I am closer with this aunt and uncle than I am with the others.

There are days when I think, siblings…who needs ‘em? And there are other days when I would give nothing more than to have someone with whom I could share the good and the bad.  I’ve always had friends and a big imagination, so I’ve rarely felt alone. But, I’d be lying if I said that I never wondered what life would be like with siblings.

Do you have siblings? How far apart in age are you? Are you close? How has your relationship with them evolved as you’ve gotten older?

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