Only child or More?

[spockey]

Hi

I've lost two pregnancies in the last year and a half and am contemplating raising an only child.

I would like to know from parents raising an only child:
- What are the clear advantages of raising just one child apart from the financial benefit of being able to provide the world to him/her?
- What are the disadvantages of raising the only child?

Thanks.

 

[Buckeroo]

From a perspective of someone who grew up an only child --the only disadvantage that I see now is that I have the sole responsibility for the care of my parents in their old age (even though it is not expected nor required of me to do so). I don't mean someone to share just the financial responsibility, if it comes to that, but rather the moral support of some other person or persons who had grown up with you and share the history of your childhood.

I see my hubby with his four siblings and I see how they support each other and come together for family discussions (via online family forums, emails, and long-distance calls). This is something that an only child will not have.
This is very different from having friends... even the very best of friends (or spouses) with whom you can discuss these things with. There's something about having gone through the shared history together.

That is the "disadvantage" to being an only child that I can share.

 

[reei]

you can borrow this book from the library 'you and your only child'.. as buckeroo, said, generally, there is shared responsibility among siblings as your parents grow older.. someone to share the history and understand.. but this may not necessarily be the way.. there are cases ,where the brother is well just MIA leaving the daughter alone to care for the aging parents..

 

[spockey]

Thanks! Will look up the book.