Single child myth

Do you have siblings? Nearly everybody in my environment has - minimum one, maximum eight. Yeah... some parents simply couldn't stop. If you don't, then you are like me. Welcome to the club of single children. We are the only ones responsible to carry the family stories and traditions to the next generation. We are the princess or the prince of the whole clan.

And we are mobbed throughout our life because our parents decided it is fine not to keep going. When I was small I always wanted a big brother. Well, you might recognize how young I was while I believed the wish would come true, not knowing how it actually works. I got over it very quickly, just my environment not. In school, university (especially during team exams) and even in work I seem to be an endangered species. There are two options how people treat me.

First: These sad puppy eyes, telling me that I will be alone for the rest of my life. Hm... Thank you so much! Seems like family, friends or a partner don't count. Sweet.

Second: To be honest this is my favorite one and I regularly encounter it when dating. "Oh you are a single child. So you are the spoiled girl who never had to move a finger and got everything she wanted from her parents." Let me be clear: this is how the guy during a first date thinks he can leave a good impression. Charming!

So dear world, let me be very clear: You are fucking wrong! These are myths which mysteriously survived generations. I did pretty well without brother, because it forced me to find friends and be social and it taught me to be empathetic and a good listener. Skills I highly appreciate today. I love my friends, because we selected each other and it makes them even more important to me. I did not get everything from my parents. Therefor I learned early how to negotiate. They taught me it's a give and take. I learned to spend money wisely and that there are things in live you don't need urgently. I passed university, I found internships and jobs, I have build my own reputation in business and you know what: none of that was because I am Daddy's little girl.

Is being single child perfect? No, probably not every second of your life. But hey - think back - is having siblings easy every day?