I often look back and wonder how my parents raised four children.
And is the stereotype that an only child will turn out spoiled actually true?
The cost of childcare
It is no secret that the cost of raising children is high.
Perhaps the single most important benefit of having one child is that it is less expensive.
Beyond education, parents can also expose only children to more travel and culture.
Only children often have higher self-esteem than other children.
Writer Lauren Sandler shared the findings of Dr. Falbo and her colleague Denise Pilot with theNew York Times.
They instill high self-esteem, foster maturity, and enable a child to develop a strong identity."
The solitude is not necessarily a drawback, however.
The child may actually become more creative and resourceful in entertaining themselves.
So the idea that only children will be lonely or bored by themselves is not necessarily true.
It can, in fact, lead to more creative play.
This constant exposure to the adult world can lead to a more mature child.
Also, sibling rivalry does not exist to hamper family dynamics.
Life balance
The advantages of having one child extend to the parents as well.
With only one child, parents can pursue career aspirations and enjoy a lifestyle suited to their needs.
Kate Orson summed it up perfectly when she wrote onParent.cothat “a happy parent equals a happy child.”
She experienced her own sense of balance between parenting and her career with one child.
Would I find the time to write with multiple children to look after?
They were my inspiration that writing and parenting could be combined."
Parents of one child have the opportunity to have a more well-rounded life.
The childcare duties may be easier if there are two parents and only one child to look after.
Parents can trade off, allowing each partner to receive free time to explore personal interests.
Also, parents have more time to focus on their marriage as well.
It is estimated that by 2030 there will be 8.5 billion people on planet Earth.
Raising one child can slow the population growth and preserve valuable resources.
Russell aptly shares, “You get to be a mother without destroying Mother Earth.”
