The most random of things will cross my mind at the most random of times:
Here are a few examples:
I'll be washing the dishes and all of a sudden I'll think - Yuck! I hate green jell-o.
I was folding my laundry last weekend and all of a sudden I was thinking - Stephen still has my guitar. I need to get it back from him.
When I was driving home from work last week and - I wonder what NFL team I should try and follow this season now that Minnesota isn't the same team. - popped into my head.
And just yesterday, in the shower, I thought I'd be helping my kid sister/brother pack for her/his first year of college if mom had delivered the baby.
I was what my mom called "The Miracle Baby". In fact, every chance she gets, she reminds me just how "wanted" I really was and how many years it took for me to come along.
And then after I came along Mom and Dad kept trying for another. Unfortunately, Mom had several problems and they were never able to have another. The only one I really remember was the miscarriage my mom had when I was 8 years old. But I still think about it. A lot more often than you can imagine.
When I was 22 years old, I was a mentor to a 13 year old girl. And throughout the year, all I could think about was Wow, she's the same age my younger brother or sister would have been.
I hate to toot my own horn (ah-ha), but I think I would have been a killer older sister. I could have shown him/her so much. If I'd had a younger brother - he and I could have shared a love of the Spurs. We could have played video games. I could have taught him about how women think. And if I'd had a younger sister - I could have handed down all of my Barbie dolls to her. Showed her how to throw a softball and forced her to learn Spanish (since I never did).
I would have helped him/her find the best college in the country (Southwestern) and told him/her just how much work it takes to really succeed. Helped him/her to realize the importance of making the right decisions. And then of course, been there to console him/her when they would inevitably make the mistakes we all must make as we grow up (and even as adults).
You might be thinking - dude, you're an only child, you have it made! I know all the perceptions of only children. We're "spoiled". We don't "relate well to others". We're "fiercely independent". We're "spoiled". But trust me, it's not quite the glamorous life that you imagine. Now don't get me wrong. It has certainly had its advantages. It has "paid off" if you will - by way of gifts, having two rooms to myself as I was growing up, and just the sheer amount of love my family bestows upon me.
But then there's the downside:
-The number of times I've played "Speed" (the card game) against myself.
-One-player Monopoly.
-Having to do ALL of the chores.
-Being home alone (AAAAAAHHHHHH!).
See - clearly it's not all it's cracked up to be.
But don't worry about me. I'll be okay.
I still think I would have made an awesome sister. But that's just my opinion.
3 comments:
You know, I never really thought about the "downside" to being an only child. But as I was reading, I was thinking. . . (insert joke here) . . . I have a sister and she never played speed with me, or Monopoly for that matter. Oh, and she was always too afraid to break a nail or a sweat while mowing the grass, so I did it by myself. As far as the other chores, well, she wasn't so much of a helper as she was a supervisor. But hey, the grass is always greener, right? I used to say I'd trade M in for a big brother (as long as he was tall and cute, with tall, cute friends!
That kid would have been lucky to have half of you!
I'm basically an only child as well, and it does have pros and cons. Especially when your 8th grade class is 12 people. I really could have used a sibling to spend some time with.
Thanks Gringa (hehe. Erin, remember that?). You made my day!
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