It was only a few years ago that I started to think about being an only child - this may seem strange as I am 50 years old, but it didn’t seem important until recently. Many more people than ever before are having one child. Some people feel like an only child with brothers and sisters who are much older. With extended and complex families many children who have siblings living in other households are brought up feeling like "onlies".
Lots of parents of only children worry: will they be lonely - will they make friends?
Lots of only children worry about their parents and who will help care for them as they and their parents get older.
Husbands or wives wonder what it was like for their partner to grow up without brothers or sisters.
I remember clearly Ann Richardson saying that she didn’t really understand it herself but that "something happens in a room when you get a group of onlies together". After attending the "Being An Only" conference in London in July 2005, I was overwhelmed by the energy I experienced by simply being in a room with around 70 other onlies. Several discussions with Ann later, I found myself organising the first workshop in Scotland for only children...
I attended the 2006 conference at Earnley as a facilitator. A wonderful time with lots of shared experiences and "lightbulb" moments - lots of laughter, a few tears and huge amounts of insight all round. I felt privileged to be part of the whole experience.
I do hope that, if you are an only, you are able to explore and compare your own experiences with other onlies in whatever way is good for you. Have a look at Ann Richardson's website www.beinganonly.com , take a look in the chat rooms or read Jill Pitkeathley and David Emerson’s book ("Only Child: How to survive being one") as an introduction to the subject.
Lots of parents of only children worry: will they be lonely - will they make friends?
Lots of only children worry about their parents and who will help care for them as they and their parents get older.
Husbands or wives wonder what it was like for their partner to grow up without brothers or sisters.
I remember clearly Ann Richardson saying that she didn’t really understand it herself but that "something happens in a room when you get a group of onlies together". After attending the "Being An Only" conference in London in July 2005, I was overwhelmed by the energy I experienced by simply being in a room with around 70 other onlies. Several discussions with Ann later, I found myself organising the first workshop in Scotland for only children...
I attended the 2006 conference at Earnley as a facilitator. A wonderful time with lots of shared experiences and "lightbulb" moments - lots of laughter, a few tears and huge amounts of insight all round. I felt privileged to be part of the whole experience.
I do hope that, if you are an only, you are able to explore and compare your own experiences with other onlies in whatever way is good for you. Have a look at Ann Richardson's website www.beinganonly.com , take a look in the chat rooms or read Jill Pitkeathley and David Emerson’s book ("Only Child: How to survive being one") as an introduction to the subject.
