I've come to realize being an only child isn't so easy.
Hannah isn't really an only child---she has 2 stepbrothers but they are both much older than her and don't live with us so in a sense, she is an only child. Hannah is such a social little butterfly. She loves being around kids. She's constantly begging for friends to come over to play with her.
We are very fortunate that we live across the street from a family with 5 kids, 2 right around Hannah's age and 3 younger. She just loves that family and so do we. We often tell people that our house is either filled with kids or no kids as Hannah is usually over there or the kids are over here. I honestly don't know what we would do without them. It would be much harder.
Hannah also has cousins that live pretty close by so we are also lucky in that regard.
But when they are all busy or out of town, it's really tough for a little girl who wants to play with her friends. Mom and Dad just aren't the same. Plus her dad isn't able to do things "normal" dads can do. Then she has her mom who spends a lot of time helping her dad and although she tries to play with Hannah and do the best she can......truth be told, her mom gets tired.
It can be hard for Hannah. :(
It's been bothering me. I try to do the best I can but I struggle with seeing my daughter be so lonely at times. Especially since I've been hearing from so many other people who have been only children who have just "hated" it and made sure I knew that. I even had one stranger tell me one time "Don't let her be an only child. Make sure you have another one. Having no siblings is the worst thing in the world"
Insert major guilt.
Yesterday I was at a party where there was a couple with a 4-year-old boy. I had met them once briefly but this was the first time I really got to spend some time with them.
At one point someone brought up the topic of another child for them.
The lady said "Nope, we're done. He got fixed right after our son was born and I was totally okay with that".
She was questioned why and she said "We were both only children and that's how we wanted our child to be".
My ears perked up....."Really? Did you guys like being only children?"
The man said "I loved it! Life was good. I experienced so much more and I got what I wanted".
I turned to the lady who said "Yeah, I loved it too! When I was young, I admit it was hard not having someone to play with but as the years went on, I really liked it".
I got chills. This lady had no clue how I had been feeling, my situation with Hannah or anything about me. I felt like this was an opportunity for me. I explained our situation, how Hannah struggles, etc. I told her about our neighbors. She told me "That is so perfect for Hannah. Those kids are going to be her siblings."
I could definitely see that.
She went on "Also our son doesn't have any true aunts and uncles but he has so many who are "aunties" and "uncles" and so many of our friends want to spend time with him, have him overnight, etc. He is so loved and he has so many family".
Again, chills as I explained that Hannah had the same thing----so many "aunties" and "cousins", etc.
Then she said to me "Hannah will be fine. She will be just fine" and gave me a huge smile.
I needed that. God knew I needed to hear that. This couple had no clue just how much I needed to hear that.
I truly felt like it was a God moment, a God-planned moment to help one of his children struggling.
Thank you God.
Birthday Fun
4 years ago
