only child question - Page 2

[Maluhia]

@jellybeanmumma you might want to look into the psychological profile of sensation-seeking people.  Many are high-needs children and grow into creative adventurous wonderful adults who, when raised by parents who were similar as kids, have a great experience of being allowed to explore and experience childhood in their own way.  

[mamazee]

My dd was an only for 7 years, and no one ever asked her about it, and in fact people were surprised when we decided to have a second.  I wouldn't overthink this.

[NellieKatz]

My DS is 7 and he's homeschooled but we have a large network of friends & family, and this has never come up. And I confess I can be a little snarky when it comes to certain questions that betray a lack of imagination or a certain "there's only one 'normal' way to do something" kind of thinking).

So when I read your hypothetical question, I first thought of the answer

"Why do you ask?" (seriously, rather than being put on the defensive, find out why they are asking. It can take the conversation in a more constructive direction)

and if they persist in wanting to know WHY, your child can say

"I don't know. It wasn't my decision. Would you like to ask my mother? Here's our phone number."

Now, in my household that's no big deal; my son doesn't have a problem in the world calling up a grownup to ask them a question. But I'm guessing that for most kids that would be a question-stopper.  :-)

[Danielle283]

I don't think my daughter (6 next week) has ever been asked that. If she has then she's probably just not cared enough to even answer! She has always had a few only children as classmates though, so it's not a big deal.

[meemee]

dd is 8 and she has never been asked that question. i guess because at her dc/ps there were all kis nds of families. single child, single parent, two mommies, two daddies and blended of course. 

and even if she was asked she would probably brush it off as 'i dont know'.

eeeeeeee yikes! i just saw your other reply. ugh! that's horrible. it seems to me you should prepare your son to deal with people like them. because it wont stop at this question. they might be mean about other things. 

modeling has helped dd deal with certain things when v. young. the best way is to not let those comments get to you. took a lot of work on my part not to be emotionally triggered, but i did it and for the most part ignored them. as she grew older and when the situation demanded i'd explain to my dd everyone has their own opinion - doesnt mean we have to follow them or like or dislike them. just take it at face value and leave it at that.