Any sibling-less humans reading this? Do you get questioned by many? Maybe your relatives used to ask you a lot of questions. Or perhaps your friends once asked you something you didn’t know how to answer, because they just never comprehended your uniqueness. Here are some questions that sibling-less people often get asked.
Do you ever feel bored at home?
Yeah, sometimes. But, most of the time I enjoy my own company. I also appreciate silence more than noise, especially in the age when almost everything is digital and necessitates a fast pace.
Did you ever ask your parents about their choice?
Yes, haha. My mum’s answer was “I wanted to take care of you”. In other words, she wanted to see that I got the fullest attention possible.
Do you consider yourself spoilt?
Maybe? What is ‘maybe’ for an answer, anyway? Well, there’d be times I consider myself spoilt because my parents would try to grant me everything I wanted. But then, I came across a video about a British 12-year-old girl who has extensive access to high-end fashion. My immediate reaction to the video was ‘Whoa, what has the world come to?’
Does this mean you’re very clique-ish?
I do have a set of close friends and try to build the friendship as much as possible. At the same time, I try to be friends with as many people as possible. There’s nothing wrong with going out of your usual circle, once in a while.
How was school and university life for you?
School was interesting because it’s where I extended my socialising skills with other people. Once in a while, I did feel a little awkward whenever my friends were talking about their siblings. But, anyway, it’s good knowledge for me. Oh, I did go to a private school for two years, so that was where I met many sibling-less people. Additionally, because I went to a private international university, it was quite delightful to find some singletons who shared the same sentiments with me.
As a person with no siblings, do people mistake you as arrogant just because you enjoy your own company?
To a certain extent, yes. However, it’s good to know that most people respect that I need to have my own time and space. I wouldn’t think too much about it.
Do you generally get irritated when people ask you if you have siblings?
No, I find it rather interesting that I’ve to make the effort to explain to people about how I am the only one in the family. Even until today, it is still a challenge for me to explain what being an only child means to those with siblings. Even then, I maintain my composure.
Any words for single children out there?
I think being the only child means you get to navigate between being alone and being in the presence of other people, which is definitely something we have to get used to. Even then, I wouldn’t know what having siblings would be like because I’ve never lived with any. Then again, I think only children are no different from those with siblings.