BellaOnline Forums Family Siblings Siblings vs Only child

My only sibling is my brother, seven years my junior. My dad always says he had "two only children" because with such an age gap, different genders, and drastically different personalities, we kind of were. The only playtime or even lengthy interaction we had growing up was when I was being used as the unwilling babysitter. I had to keep him occupied and out of trouble, so I had no choice but to play with him. It was never much fun. Middle schoolers and kindergarteners rarely have much in common. I much preferred being alone in my room with my books to hanging out with a little kid.

By the time my brother was old enough to talk to on a similar age/life experience level, I was living in another part of the state. We get along alright on the rare occasions we see each other, but it's more like cousins than siblings. We have a little shared history, but no common ground beyond that. Our adult lives, like our childhoods, are very different.

Basically, my early life would have been improved slightly if my brother had never come along. We were just too far apart for him to have a major impact. With my lifelong love of quiet and solitude, I'd have suffered greatly in a large family situation, or even with a close sibling.

I have 7 brother and sisters, 1 full blood, 4 halves, 2 step. I cannot imagine my life without my siblings. Although, my mom reminds me of the comments that I used to make when I was litte. I used to always tell my mom that we should run away just her and I and get an apartment together and forget about everyone else. (lol I wanted her attention)

I mean, the grass is always greener on the other side. You look at movies today and see the spoiled rich kid whose parents are never around and is bored just by himself but, he has everything you can imagine; and you see the movies with the 12 kids and no privacy but you always have someone there so you never feel lonely, and most of the time you have someone who can watch over you.

I believe that you don't choose your parents, and unfortunately you don't choose the lifestyle they bring you up in... but you grow and you learn and there is no use in looking back on the past wishing that you could change something you had no power over.

I am am only child and was emotionaly neglected after my father died. I think if my dad had not have died and my mom had not sunk into a emotional void I would have liked being a only child. I have always wanted a baby brother tho and a big sister. I just thought a big sister to watch do things and a baby brother to play with in the dirt would be fun! my mom wanted a girly girl and I wanted to get and stay in the dirt and work with dad in the barn... a big sister could have entertained my mom so I could be me!

My brother is 6 years younger than me, so I was raised as a single until I was in grade school. He was a sickly child in his younger years, so it seemed to me that he got all the attention I used to get, and as he grew he was always a nuisance to me and we fought a lot.

But when he was in high school and I was in college and living at home, I remember coming home one day, fixing myself a snack and then making one for him, too. I called him down to the kitchen and he came, as warily as a rabbit in a yard full of sleeping dogs. We ate together and slowly began to talk like adults. That was the beginning of our real friendship that has meant more and more to us as the years have gone by.