lonely onlys

Lately I've been thinking about what it means for me to have grown up as an only child. In church on Sunday one of the moms turned to me after her eldest girl had just apologized for something the mom hadn't even noticed, and said, "She wants so much to Get It Right." This is totally an oldest/only child syndrome. I know all about it! Often when people find out I'm an only child they'll ask, "Ohhh, were you spoiled?" with a curious coy look, like they are thinking about what spoiled little children are like. I reply, No, I wasn't really. Which I think is true. I am blessed with great parents who raised me to think things through for myself and to work for what I wanted.

But just in the last few weeks I've been wondering if perhaps I WAS spoiled - in a way apart from the standard stereotype of being given presents or privileges whenever I wanted them.

Outside of the school arena, I never had to consider others when I was a kid. I didn't live in a family with other children around, and so I never had to share or let someone else have a turn when I was at home. I was the only child around to pay attention to, so in a way I had less chance to learn to think of others. And I feel like I've been learning how to do that ever since I got to college. So there we go :) that's the latest musings from the lower lefthand corner of the USA.