After addressing the fact that I have no siblings, the most common question that follows is, “Don’t you get lonely?” Though frequently recognized as a lonely, spoiled rotten group, only children are ones who have gained much respect in the world of independence and imagination.

Yes, only children have many friends to play with, but often when our parents are busy or can’t go anywhere, we are left with our own company, which leads many others to believe that we have a somewhat lonesome life. That, however, is far from the truth. What people do not understand is though we do not have the companionship of other siblings, we are blessed with the presence of our parents to keep us company and entertain us.

When I was little, all I wanted was to have a little brother or sister that I could brag about like all my other friends did. I wanted to play the role of the big sister, be protective and become a role model for someone I could influence. It wasn’t until my mother babysat a rowdy couple of brothers that I realized I was perfectly happy being an only child. “Mom, I don’t think I want any siblings,” I told my mother as a trail of mud followed the two brothers out of the car.

The main stereotypes only children face is the thought that we are all spoiled without any sort of manners. Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of the many infamous only children that is spoiled beyond repair. Her delight in getting what she wants, terrible attitude and lack of respect comes to mind when anyone acknowledges the fact that I have no siblings. Thought there are plenty of kids who do match the Veruca Salt description, the way in which we are brought up by our parents is what truly makes a difference.

“You must have always got what you wanted in life.” It’s true the less kids there are, the more attention the others get… especially when you’re an only child! Not only are you treated with the spoils of the youngest, but also with the respect of the oldest. One of the many perks of being an only child is the lack of competition that arises when it comes to your parents. There is no need to worry about which child your mother loves most, because quite frankly there aren’t any others options to choose from.

I’m often told how I missed out on the special bonds that siblings have. How I should wish I had a sister to share memories with, ask for advice or confide in. That all sounds very nice, but I had no need for a sister. Because of the special connection we had, my mother was all of that and more for me. There were many times when she could focus all her attention on me. She never missed a volleyball game, a band concert or dance recital of any kind because there were no other siblings to work around.

The importance of always having a family member in the audience is crucial for kids as they grow up, and I always had my number one fan right in the front row.