Someone asked me the other day.........

What is was like being the youngest of 5 children? Well, for me it was wonderful. My father spoiled me rotten and when my siblings got in trouble for doing something, I just ran to my dad and avoided Mom and "the belt".
She would chase my siblings around with it but never used it. It was like a threat that never happened. Had it's drawbacks too though. Mom was a stay at home Mom until I hit kindergarten, then she was off to work to help support the family, so she wasn't home when I got home from school. Plus I was always too young to join in on what the older kids were doing......sniff sniff. So, all in all, it had it's up and downs, but still, I wouldn't trade it!

How about you guys? How many siblings for you growing up? If any only child, did you wish for siblings or were you happy to have Mom and Dad all to yourselves?

It is good that you could run and hide with your Dad!

I just have one older sister. It was pretty cool growing up really, as Mum was a stay at home Mum, so she was always taking us out on day trips!!

I thoroughly enjoyed crawing around with my sister (she has CP) and having races and inventing games we could both play! We got on very well - usually - but she did scratch like a cat!! Ouch! and she could shout my name quicker than I could hers, so I was always in trouble - even when she started it by scratching me!

When I was small, I always wanted a younger sister, but I got a cat instead and that was better! I didn't need another sister! She was great then and still is my best friend now!!

I'm an only child, and I LOVED it growing up, and still do (I have a couple of step-siblings now, but they're both adults as well and my mom's not close with them at all, so it's never felt any different). It makes me sound like a total brat, but I loved having everything to myself (my toys, my parents' attention, my room), unlike my friends with siblings who had to share everything, and not having anyone to bother me - all of my friends' siblings would pester them, and they'd fight constantly. I wouldn't have it any other way - I don't mind that I'm 'missing out' on having a sibling in my life, because lots of siblings don't get along anyway, so even if I had one, it wouldn't necessarily add a meaningful relationship to my life, anyway.

i was the youngest of two and it was pretty awful. we were very close in age and my parents thought i was too wild and he was too tame, so they would make him do things and not allow me to do those same things, such as more dangerous or controversial things.. but that may have also been because i was a girl and he a boy. But I pretty much did everything first even though he was older, but he did get married first... ugh. it was always a competition between us.

I too am the youngest of 5 (2 sisters, 2 brothers). I too became a latchkey kid (in 3rd grade) when mom got her teaching degree and went to work to help support our family. Mom had no mercy on me and gave me the task of cleaning 1/2 of the house, doing my own laundry and all the ironing at the tender age of 8. The few times she brought out the belt was serious business. Dad was simply at work most the time. Sounds crummy, but it made me a very responsible person.

Being the youngest worked both to my advantage and disadvantage - mom and dad were hip to anything that the kids could throw at them growing up so by the time I came around, I didn't get away with much. But I did get a little extra pampering since I was the "baby" of the family and my big sister (8 years older) took me under her wings and let me hang out with her. This was the 1960's and nothing better than having big sister dress me up like a hippy (complete with frayed blue jeans, fringe jacket, peace sign head band and leather purse belt) and take me out with her friends to show me off. I hope I never embarrassed her too much!

I enjoyed growing up in a big family, then met my husband who was 7 of 8 (5 boys and 3 girls). Now THAT is an interesting bunch of folks to hang out with!!

Two brothers and two sisters. Our oldest brother was kinda mean back in the day, but that's what older brothers do. I imagine we were irritating. I'm very close to both of my sisters, but not as close to my brothers.

We all get along and are there for one another when needed. I'm so glad I have them in my life.

Susie, what a splendid thread to do!!!!

I can only say that I was raised with six brothers, myself -the only girl- and my Dad. But I was NOT spoiled, babied, nor protected. I had to fight for everything I got (sometimes literally) and was told to keep up or shut up! So by the time I left home at 17, I had a mean right hook, some great survival skills, and could play second base with the best of 'em -- that's hardball, fast pitch, call strikes, no crying in baseball!!!!!

I love this thread and to hear from everyone. I hope we get a lot of responses, I find it so interesting to read about everyone else.

I am an only child, and feel it has had it's advantages and disadvantages, as does anything. It was great not having to share toys, clothes, a bedroom, etc. with a sibbling. I see tha much more clearly in hindsight since at the time, I didn't know any difference. It probaby helped me in learning to occupy and entertain myself since since there were no sibbling to play with. It was an advantage also to not have to compete for my parents attention. I find the disadvantages to be greater now as I am older. I often wish I had a sister with whom I could share such a close relationship as I sometimes see in other families. That may be why I place all the more emphasis on my relationships with very close friends, such as my dear friends right here at TCS. When I say you guys are my family, I really mean it!

Let's see...

I am technically the only child...my parents were divorced when I was 2.

My father remarried and had 2 girls, my half-sisters: Ashley (17) and Allyson (8)...

....so yes I loved being the only child for years...especially when my mother had the only child for my grandparents until I turned 19...then I had to share my grandparents (my aunt Kathy's kids are now 5 and 3)...those were the years!


I love my sisters and I don't have a problem sharing them with my father--actually, that's what keeps me close to him...atleast I think that's it....

I'm the youngest of 5 as well!, 3 brothers and 1 sister.

My mum had me when she was goung through the menopause, in other words i was an accident!!!

I was also spoilt but not in the way that i was a brat?!, and my sister was the one who really spoilt me because being the only girl at the time she so wanted mum to have a girl.

I was told that she wanted to take me out in my pram only hours after i was born!

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

That may be why I place all the more emphasis on my relationships with very close friends, such as my dear friends right here at TCS. When I say you guys are my family, I really mean it!

Click to expand...

Awwww

Oh Sthephanie!!! you always can count with my friendship...

about the thread, I´m the Second of 4 Brothers, 3 are married and 1 still single... and about the "belt" our GrandMa (RIP) grew up us and she give to us a good "education" with the belt!!!! .... but I love her!

Great memories...

I'm an only child, and really, I didn't like it all that much because we also lived in a pretty kid free neighborhood, so I was alone alot. I was a latchkey kid even though my mum DIDN'T work (go figure). I don't like being an only child now, because my mom wants me to come home every night now that I'm married, lol. though she didn't much care what I did every night before I got married. To their defense though, my mom had me when she was 40.. soo.. we had menopause and PMS in the same house. I thin kthat's why we have a bit of a rough relationship.

Stephanie - That is a very sweet thing to say

Now - I'm the oldest so I'm telling you all what you need to do!

Mom had no mercy on me and gave me the task of cleaning 1/2 of the house, doing my own laundry and all the ironing at the tender age of 8.

Click to expand...

Amy, I'm right there with ya. I believe I was 10 when I had to do my own ironing and I watched my younger sis after school and started babysitting her at night, etc when I was 11-12. Eventhough I was a little insecure being a latchkey kid, I felt it did teach responsibility/independence at an early age. I think it was an important life lesson and wouldn't trade it for the world. Eventhough I don't like to be alone, I know I'm just fine on my own because of my past experiences. I can take care of myself and I know I can only depend on me.

Well, I am the oldest, of 2. A few years ago I kind of wished that I was an only child... but I honestly regret ever wishing that.. I only had that feeling because my brother gets.. EVERYTHING he wants..
My brother is my best friend though, we love eachother more then anything..
We never really had any punishment when we were younger.. My father died when we were... 9, and 5.. Soo, it was my mom taking care of us.. and I honesty had to play mommy to him for a while because my mom then had to take a longer job. Before my dad died, my mom worked at the Lisence Branch.. So she was home when we left for school and by the time we were home from school... I guess you could say that we had a very good childhood.. tons of love, and never doing without anything.. we were both EQUALLY spoiled.. but, about 3 years ago, my grandma moved into the house w/ us.. and my brother was her Favorite grandchild.. and she wasnt afraid to show it.. so if he looked at somethin like he liked it.. it was in his hands for good.. thats y i was kinda jealous.. but, i guess its ok to have favorites.. and all in all.. its been good!

I was an only child but spent alot of my early years with my aunt and two cousins. Ryan was only about 11 months older than me, so we were inseperable. I liked being an only child, I was a loner anyway. And then when I was feeling like not being alone, there was always Ryan.

Originally Posted by captiva

Amy, I'm right there with ya. I believe I was 10 when I had to do my own ironing and I watched my younger sis after school and started babysitting her at night, etc when I was 11-12. Eventhough I was a little insecure being a latchkey kid, I felt it did teach responsibility/independence at an early age. I think it was an important life lesson and wouldn't trade it for the world. Eventhough I don't like to be alone, I know I'm just fine on my own because of my past experiences. I can take care of myself and I know I can only depend on me.

Click to expand...

Absolutely learned that lesson of depending on myself also! They say the youngest is typically spoiled, but I think in my household, mom got tired of picking up after everyone so somewhere about the time I was born she decided that the kids can do the work. I used to run home from school at lunch in 3rd grade and make everyone lunch to eat. Nothing fancy - sandwiches and soup, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti. I had the key to the house and had to let everyone in. When I was a little older, I got dinner duty also. I think today they might call this child abuse or neglect. But yup, it made me a strong person.