All by myself…I wanna be all by myself!

In the news this week is a very interesting study, which has found that only children are happier. Here’s a link to the article on Twitter.

Almost the minute your first child is born, the questions start “Any sign of a little brother or sister?” There’s an expectation that at a minimum you’ll have a second. Because how can you possibly leave your child as an only child. I’ve even heard people go so far as to describe it as cruel to have an only child. This study is interesting because it really questions that accepted wisdom.

I have three brothers and I can’t imagine having been an only child. The vast majority of my favourite memories growing up involve my siblings. But my hubby is younger by more than ten years than his siblings, so really for as long as he can remember it was only him at home. His brother and sisters had grown up and moved out while he was still very young. So he doesn’t think having siblings close in age to you is a necessity for a happy childhood.

I’ve always felt that siblings are important because it means your child has someone to play with. And I worry that being an only child would mean too much parental focus and from that too much parental pressure on one child. But this study seems to turn all that on its head. It’s certainly food for thought.