The Disadvantages of an Only Child

張貼日期：Jan 31, 2021 6:19:53 PM

Naomi Ren

In recent years, many couples have chosen not to have children or have only one child because of economic factors. I once read an article about raising a child. The author said that it would cost at least two million for a family to raise a child to graduate from university. So many families choose to have only one child. For example, I am the only child in my family. Many friends envy me because I am an only child. Actually, the only child is not as good as people’s imagination; for instance, we are lonely, being considered spoiled, and stressed.

First of all, we have been lonely since we came to this world. And I envy people who have brothers and sisters. For example, no one plays with me during the Chinese New Year. I can only watch TV by myself. This makes me feel that the most annoying festival is Chinese New Year. Also, people with siblings can discuss questions with each other, whether they are emotional problems or academic ones. I can only ask my friends for help, but sometimes I am afraid of disturbing others. So I have to solve the problem by myself. Therefore, I envy those people who have siblings because they are not alone.

Second, people tend to consider that the only child is spoiled and selfish. Some people have stereotypes about the only child. People feel that if there is only one child in the family, the parents tend to spoil their child. It seems that the only child has everything, and there is no need for him or her to compete with brothers and sisters. People might also think the only child tends to be selfish because they don’t know how to share. But in fact, these stereotypes have nothing to do with the only child. These stereotypes are caused by personal conduct and parenting styles.

Finally, if parents have terrible trouble, the only child can find no one to share the stress. I often think about what I should do if my father is sick. I have to pay for his medical expenses alone and take care of him every day. At the same time, I have to work hard because medical expenses are expensive. Also, I am concerned about how much living expenses I should give my father every month. I am afraid that the money I can give my father is not enough. I have no brothers or sisters to share these burdens. I can only solve these problems by myself.

I hope to have brothers and sisters so that I will not be alone, I will not be considered a spoiled child, and I will not bear family pressure on my own. It is great to have brothers and sisters because we can grow up together. This is the thing that the only child cannot experience. I think it’s important for me to have good relationship with people around me, for they can be someone I can turn to when I, an only child, need support and help.