[gumby]

There's a lot of generalization from a single sample here:

> The world of single-child parenting, at least in my experience, was a doting dance. A universe where our child became the sole moon, and around him, our world orbited. ...when everything is handed over without a slight struggle or effort, it becomes the expected norm....[with multiple kids] Gone were the days of extravagant games and toys. In their place, the charm of simple play, conversations, and basic fun thrived.

A single child need not be a helicoptered princess/prince. That's a cultural or personal choice on the part of the parents. They can just as well grow up to be a happy, well adjusted adult experienced in both love and challenges.

[jmathai]

I have 4 kids. My wife and I joke that if anything happens to one that we have spares. It’s a joke but there’s truth in it.

It got me to think about parents with a single kid. Parents carry the burden to keep their kids alive to survive them and help them thrive.

I’ve noticed that my single child friends are a lot more protective…and I realized I probably would too if (for lack of a better phrase) all my eggs were in one basket. Makes sense.

[mustafabisic1]

That’s another angle. Love it

[abracadaniel]

I tend to agree. It feels like more of a potential pitfall to watch out for than an eventuality. There’s also something to be said for knowing your limit. Growing up, a good friend had a large family, and it was like Lord of the Flies at his house. It, unfortunately, did not end well for any of them. There are plenty of stereotypes around siblings: oldest, youngest, oops baby, only child, middle child, etc and the distinctions feel a bit more like horoscopes than anything solid. I’d bet that any real trends could be changed with a little awareness.

[mustafabisic1]

Agreed, it’s a balancing act and it’s quute individual.

[mustafabisic1]

Great commeny. Of course they can grow up to be happy. My wife is the only child and she’s great. I’m just talking about pronciple and more of a feeling. It’s not a law nor a rule .