“Oh c’mon don’t be selfish, he needs a friend,” they all say. Shaking their heads in disbelief. He is 6 already! Really? I had no idea. Why would anyone choose to have 1. Why would anyone choose to have more I say. I have nothing against people having more, nothing at all. I do have a problem when food gets taken out one child’s mouth to feed another. You see people think he was unplanned because I was young when I had him, but that’s not true. He was an “easy” baby. No colic, hardly sick, slept through the night from 3 months. “Was he difficult” “ Is that why you don’t want more? No. “Did you have a tough pregnancy? Is that why?” No.
Its human nature for “them” to not be able to fathom my choice, worse. To understand it. I wanted one, I have one.
“But isn’t he lonely?” No.
“Well you can’t give him what only a sibling can.” Really?
I get on my knees and play cars, I sit in as a student to play school school. I do arts & crafts and all those fun, kid things. I love it! You get to be a kid again and live in a world with superheroes and magic. I race him to the car to see who’s a rotten egg. We play tricks on his dad for fun. Sorry, I cant give him what?
I can give him all of me, all the time.
I can afford him the best education, he gets to do all the sports he wants to do. He doesn’t have to scrap tennis this year… Or only have one apple or one pair of jeans.
When people come over and can’t believe how “ he doesn’t bother you” every 5 minutes, yes because being only kid has taught him to be self sufficient.
He doesn’t have a sibling to “hide” behind, to shelter him. He will grow up fending for himself, knowing to take full responsibility for his actions. He already has ambition to succeed in everything and beat his own personal best, cos lets face it…only one report card comes home. There’s no comparing. No favouring.
How will he ever learn to share???!!! Gasp! Shock! Horror!
Doesn’t Barney tell them sharing is caring????
One, two or three, they learn what we teach them.
At the end of the day its a personal choice. I have come to realise I don’t have to explain my decision to anyone. But if you insist on knowing “why”
Truth is… I cant think of any nice baby names. “Insert sarcastic emoji here”
“Well, then how can you just make THAT decision” So final!
We tossed a coin.
Odds were in my favour.
I’m Simone Abrahams, 28 year old working mother to 6 year old Kai.
Living and working on the west rand since the beginning of time.
Studying again at my ripe old age.
Traveler and making it my mission to get others addicted.
Doing it for myself since *2008
Good for you. No judgement from me! 🙂
The question I absolutely despise is “when are you getting married”, like dude, since when does having child = marriage? I too only have one and his name is Kai, 8 years old 🙂