Hi everyone! This has been on my mind lately and I’d love to hear if anyone else has felt something similar.
I came across an Instagram reel about only children that really got under my skin. It was making fun of “one-and-done” families and suggesting that a family with two parents and one child isn’t a “real” family. It also mentioned how an only child will one day have to care for two aging parents, while the parents only had to raise one child, which just didn’t sit right with me.
Another point it made was that only children will one day be alone with their childhood memories, without siblings to share that history with. I know sibling relationships aren’t guaranteed to be close or even positive, but that part hit a nerve. I’m an only child myself, my parents are getting older, and I’ve started to feel this quiet fear about losing that original family connection when they’re gone. I have my own family, my husband and daughter, and I’m so grateful for them. But there’s something emotional about your “first family” that feels irreplaceable, and the thought of that fading feels really heavy.
Now I find myself second-guessing our decision to be one-and-done. At the same time, I know my limits. I know that mentally and emotionally, one child was the right choice for me. And at 40, with a 7-year-old, I don’t have any desire to start over.
I know comparison is the thief of joy, and social media can really distort things, but it’s hard not to let it get to you sometimes.
Would love to hear if anyone else has navigated these feelings 🤍