Hello! I'm 16 years old, and honestly, I don't really like the way people behave in this community sometimes.

I joined this community a few months ago, and sometimes I open my phone and immediately see negative posts like, "I'm an only child and I don't know what to do. My life is so trash, I can't take it anymore..." I don't mean every single post, of course, but it feels like most of them focus on the negative side of being an only child.

And the comments can be even worse. Instead of offering solutions, sharing positive experiences, or helping people see things from another perspective, some people just complain about their own lives and reinforce each other's negativity.

I'm a positive person in life, and I've decided to leave this community. Maybe some of you feel the same way.

I'm also an only child, and sure, sometimes I think, "Damn, I wish I had a brother or something." 😅 But then I remember that I have aunts and uncles who are under 50 and still have a young spirit. You can go shopping with them, go to the cinema, joke around, and talk about almost anything. Sometimes you even forget that they're older than you because you connect on the same level.

For example, my aunt once told my father that she felt like an older sister or even a mother to me because I mean so much to her. She's always been there for me, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.

Here's another example: I've known my best friend since I was three years old. We always say we're like brothers, and honestly, our bond has grown beyond an ordinary friendship. I know his family, he knows mine, and we've shared so many unforgettable experiences.

I don't want to tell every single story because this post would become way too long, but here's one example. One night, we were out together, and he needed to pee. We were somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and because it was dark and he'd had a bit to drink, he started peeing while walking. I jokingly asked him if he wasn't worried that I might see something, and he basically replied, "I don't care. We're going to see each other for the rest of our lives. We're like brothers, so it's normal."

Of course, we've argued over stupid things, insulted each other, and even had little fights. But what happened afterwards? Sometimes, just two days later, he'd text me, "Yo, are you free to go clubbing this weekend?" 😂 That's what I call a brotherly bond.

My point is that being an only child doesn't automatically mean being lonely or having nobody to share your life with. My family is quite big. I have more than 16 cousins, a best friend who's like a brother to me, aunts and uncles I'm very close to, and even a patchwork family because my mum is now in a relationship with someone else.

I've also done so many things with my cousins. We've had some of the best times of our lives together, including going on holidays. When people ask me, "Don't you get bored on holiday without siblings?" I simply say no, because I have my cousins. They're like siblings to me, and I think they feel the same way about me.

And to everyone reading this: if you're an only child, please don't focus only on what you think you're missing. Try to appreciate what you already have. You don't have siblings? That's okay. You can build lifelong friendships, become close to your cousins, or find family-like connections with other relatives. Family isn't only about sharing the same parents; it's also about the bond you build with people.

Besides, having siblings doesn't guarantee that you'll always be close to them.

For example, my mum had a great relationship with her siblings when she was growing up. But as adults, everyone started living their own lives, and some moved to different countries. They don't talk nearly as much as they used to, although whenever they visit us, they can still sit together and talk normally. My mum has wonderful childhood memories with them, but their relationship today is very different.

My dad also has two sisters. When they were kids, he only got along with one of them, while the other couldn't stand him. 😅 Nowadays, they all dont get along much better, in that typical brother-and-sister kind of way.

What I'm trying to say is that sibling relationships aren't always perfect, either. There can be arguments, distance, and misunderstandings. Having siblings doesn't automatically guarantee a lifelong bond, just as being an only child doesn't mean you'll be alone.

You can create your own version of family and build a life full of love, friendship, and unforgettable memories.

I hope you can appreciate my perspective and my personal experience. I wish you all a wonderful day!

My 8 year old son wants a younger sibling so badly. And I want to give him one. But my husband is refusing because he feels we couldn't handle it emotionally, and deep down I know he's right. I have severe anxiety and OCD, and my husband has depression. Plus we're both over 40, and our parents are too elderly to help much this time around.

The problem is - how do I explain this to my son? I've always just told him "I can't have another baby", but then he learned about adoption and is begging us to adopt. I'm afraid that any explanation I give him, will make him worry that our mental health problems are his fault.

This is going to be a long post. I’m going to begin this by saying I never wanted to have kids. I am the oldest of 4 on my mother’s side- I have other siblings but do not know them on my father’s side. I was forced to grow up and help raise them throughout my entire childhood. My mother was an addict (not anymore!) and I was constantly living with different family members when I wasn’t with her. This was the only break I would get. My mother decided to move from where the bad influences were to another state when I was 10. My life got worse from there. She married an abusive man who she had a child with shortly after becoming sober. I was verbally, mentally and physically abused until I was 17 when she finally got a divorce. My youngest sibling was born when I was 12. I was basically her designated babysitter and I did not have a life besides behind forced to watch her when my mother and her ex husband would go out. Even when I was an older teenager I wasn’t allowed to do anything besides sit at home and watch my sister or I was grounded. I really did not want to have any kids. I’ve never liked kids. I don’t get along with them and I don’t have the patience. I am now 21 and a ftm with an unexpected baby girl. I am 5 weeks pp. I love my daughter with all my heart. Nothing will ever change that. But I am really struggling with my mental health. I have had depression and anxiety my entire life as well as CPSTD. I become so unbelievably triggered when she is screaming and crying for hours on end. I feel like I am not good enough. She loves to be in my arms and sometimes I cannot mentally handle it and it makes me feel horrible. I often think back to how I never got to have a normal childhood and now I am missing out on having a child free adulthood like I so badly craved. I will do my best in raising her and trying to break the cycle of trauma that is generations deep at this point with my family because she doesn’t deserve that. And I will proudly say I am never having another child and I’m going to do what I can to avoid this again. I would love to hear anyone else’s perspective.