As an only child in a family of three, I’m normally by myself. While people assume that only children are lonely because they don’t have siblings, that isn’t the case with me. I usually hangout with friends or spend time with my family to overcome any loneliness I might have. Besides that, I am normally really busy with school or extracurriculars, so I don’t really have time to be lonely.

Because I’m an only child, the house is usually quiet. While some people like the commotion, I like having a quiet place to relax and enjoy my free time.  It’s really nice because I can read a book or study in peace and quiet without distractions.

Without siblings, I don’t ever have to fight anyone for my parent’s attention or affection. Whenever I want to talk about something, I have an attentive parent that I can chat with. As a result, I’m always fully supported in my hobbies and interests, such as golf and piano. However, because I always have my parents’ attention, I feel like I don’t have any freedom. I often feel smothered because there’s never another sibling for them to fret over. My parents are never super overbearing, but because I’m an only child, I feel like I’m always being watched.

Still, because my parents are usually busy with work, I’ve learned to be independent. At an early age, I had to learn how to be responsible as I was at home by myself while my parents were at work. One thing I’ve learned to do by myself was cooking, which is an activity I still really enjoy. I love to create new dishes.

Many people ask me if I want a sibling or not. As a child, I would have probably said yes. I always wanted someone to play games or talk with me when my parents or friends were busy. My friends would tell stories about their siblings that I have always wanted to experience like their playful fights or inside jokes. However, as I’ve grown older, I would say no. I like the way my family is right now. Being an only child has made me the way I am, and I wouldn’t want to change that.