Being an only child has its ups and downs. I legit thought it sucked growing up, but now that I am 19, I have realized that I had more ups than downs. I have always wanted siblings, but if I would have had siblings, I wouldn't have had the life that I lived.

Even though I've wanted a brother or sister my whole life, I've come to realize that being an only child doesn't suck as much as I thought, and here are 11 reasons why!

1. You don't have to share anything.

I learned that most people that have siblings, have to share toys and a sometimes even a bedroom.

2. You never have to wear hand-me-downs.

I was always the one handing my old clothes and toys down to my younger cousin since I was also the oldest.

3. Your parents give you all of the attention.

^ Me when my parents aren't giving me any attention.

This can be a good or a bad thing because sometimes you don't want all of the attention to be on you.

4. You pretty much always get to choose where to eat.

Could you imagine having to fight your siblings to decide where to eat? I can't relate.

5. You can make your own decisions.

My parents didn't have another kid to practice on, so I was able to be the first and only child to make the stupid decisions.

6. You never have to drive your little siblings around.

I was so excited to get my license when I turned 16, but most kids had to drive their siblings around or their parents couldn't afford to buy them a car because they had too many siblings. I was very blessed to not have that issue during those prime years as a teenager.

7. You never have to fight over the bathroom.

Wake up, go to the bathroom without a wait, go eat breakfast. You were able to get ready within 10 minutes on some days because you didn't have to wait.

8. You pretty much get whatever you want.

I can't say that this is ALWAYS true, but since my parents didn't have another kid to buy for, they let me have a lot of what I wanted.

9. The Christmas tree was a shrine to you.

If my parents would have had more than one child, they would have never been able to fit all of our Christmas ornaments on the tree, I might have had to have a little tree in my room...

10. Your parents came to all of your sporting events.

I played so many sports over my 19 years, there is no way my mom would've been able to afford sports for two and be able to be at all of our games.

11. You never had to beg for time with your parents.

Whenever I wanted to spend time with my mom, it was super simple. She and I would just go to the store on Saturday mornings. That was our weekly routine before I moved to college.