Olivia

Thanks, Amy for writing this. I was an only and I have an only (not
necessarily by choice). It is not so easy as most people think, yet I do
understand the challenges of having more than one (sibling fights, time for
everyone, etc.). The days I so wish we had more children are field trip
days and family vacations (my son loves to go places with other kids), days
when I need to clean house (he spends a lot of time alone those days), and
days when other kids are just not available to play (harder when
homeschooling because I have to actively search for potential playmates and
arrange playdates around the schedules of others). I have found that,
because I have only one, people assume that I will be able to arrange
events and make accommodations because I "have so much free time" (not
necessarily true!). Although I have spent a lot of time being his main
playmate in the past, as he has gotten older, I am not as much fun for him
as kids his age it seems. Now he really asks for other kids to play with
and this is a challenge for me to find them. On the other hand, with one
who is older (now 7), the packing for trips is a lot easier, we are more
mobile, and we are free to do things like bicycling and play tennis without
having to supervise younger siblings.

I guess it is important to remember that all sizes of families have their
challenges and rewards.

Olivia


>Message: 12
> Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 18:02:01 -0400
> From: "aworthen" <aworthen@...>
>Subject: Re: fed-up...Tracy
>
>I was an only and I have friends that have onlys and it's far more demanding
>than you think. You are the main source of entertainment for the child. I
>remember when my second became old enough to interact with my first. I felt
>like a new person. They we're playing with each other and I didn't
>constantly have to be entertaining her. I know moms of onlys that spend all
>their time on the phone planning their kid's days. At least those of us with
>more than one know that they'll always have someone to play with.
>amy

[email protected]

In a message dated 7/22/2000 6:59:41 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
liv2learn@... writes:

> (he spends a lot of time alone those days), and
> days when other kids are just not available to play (harder when
> homeschooling because I have to actively search for potential playmates and
> arrange playdates around the schedules of others). I have found that,
> because I have only one, people assume that I will be able to arrange
> events and make accommodations because I "have so much free time" (not
> necessarily true!). Although I have spent a lot of time being his main
> playmate in the past, as he has gotten older, I am not as much fun for him
> as kids his age it seems. Now he really asks for other kids to play with
> and this is a challenge for me to find them.