Parenting an Only Child: The Joys and Challenges of Raising Your One and Only Paperback – 14 Aug. 2001

Refreshing read and confirming how I felt growing up as an only child. Expels many myths.

I didnt grow up to be that messed up tbh

Such a personal decision deciding how many children to have and often not so straightforward for many, many reasons yet the world seems to offer their opinion! An interesting, informative and very thought provoking read. I looked at many before settling on this one and would recommend.

I have just begun reading it, and I'm finding it a very good read. Lots of positives, and plenty of insight. Would recommend this to anyone.

I bought this book as I wanted to read about the positives of having 'just' one child. I am glad I've read it, but found it rather disappointing. The statistics/studies quoted are not at all rigorous. The chapters seem rather random, and indeed it's hard to see much difference between them. My synopsis is that "Anne from Oregon liked being an only child as she got lots of attention, Martha from Vermont sometimes found it lonely, and John from Connecticut thought overall that it was a good thing."It's not rocket science, then!

I bought this book because I wanted to read about practical things I could do to help our only child and, in part, to be reassured that she would be okay as an only child.I've read about 2/3 of it and I'm finding it hard going. The section that I've read is self-congratulatory tosh 'Aren't we all so clever for deciding to have one'...and 'having two or more children means you'll have to end the love affair you have with your first' and 'it's not possible to love your other children like you love your first' and 'having two or more children means you won't have time to do the things you like doing...'.Not everyone chooses to have one child and if you, like me, did not want to make this choice and are heartbroken every time your only child asks, 'When am I going to be a big sister/brother?' you will probably find this book difficult too.What this author seems to have missed is that some people want to have more than one child because they loved being pregnant, they love being mums and dads and want to do it again. Not everyone has another child just to provide a sibling for the first like the adage 'an heir and a spare'.I think I'll probably cherry pick the relevant chapters from now on. And then bin the book when I'm done. All those statistics are too much of a reminder of what I've lost and missed out on.

Absolutely fantastic book! Worth every penny!! Put my mind at rest and gave me some much needed focus!

A tremendously helpful book, especially for those for whom having an only child was not necessarily their initial choice. I found the input from 'onlies' both as adults and children especially helpful (as a non-only myself), as is all the practical advice. A firm recommendation for anyone faced with the 'only child' issue.