I was just at my cousin's house, and I suddenly felt the urge to talk about this.

They currently have their cousins from Texas over, and although I don't really have anything against them -- I mean, they're sweet and friendly and all -- I just don't like how my cousins act around them, simply because they're...a lot richer.

But anyway, eight of them came. 

So there are eleven kids in that house, not including the parents. It's really loud when you step in the house, and when you get out, it's the calm after a storm. It's crazy there. And even more crazy because I'm an only child. It's typically quiet around my house, espicially when my grandma and I are the only ones at home. 

My uncle tells me he had a lot of siblings when he was young, so it was really loud too. But then he started talking about the pros and cons so now I'm thinking...

Do you like having siblings, or being an only child?

My uncle said when he had siblings, you were never alone. You always had someone with you, playing with you, trying to, or trying not to. When you were going to be bullied, your siblings stepped in and helped you, or people would decide not to bully you because they were afraid of your older siblings. You had a protective feeling for those younger than you, a feeling to protect someone just because you love them and want them to be safe from everything you've felt -- but harsher, because they're family. And the care you get, or the things you learn from your siblings that you can't from almost anyone else... Having someone be there for you and help you, play each other's strengths...

I mean, I think it's sweet.

But there are downsides to it too. You never get any privacy, you're at a constant competition. Your parents choose favorites (although you get that as an only child anyway...), you have obligations to help your siblings, and have to love someone simply because they're part of their blood? (That's what the 'rents say, at least.) What if your siblings bully you? I know my cousins bully each other a lot. I mean, I'm closer to one of them than their brother is. Growing up together doesn't always have the best effect... I guess.

Being an only child can be nice. You get almost all the privacy you want. You don't need to bother with someone else. Your parent's attention is given, a lot, to you. You grow up by yourself, independent, solving your own problems without having your siblings helping you. And it can make you grow stronger, I think, to feel everything on your own.

But...you're always alone. There isn't that special person you can share everything with. Your parents focus on you too much and their expectations sometimes almost double -- or if not, then all the responsibilities are given to you. You don't get support by another person, unless you have good friends (I don't have a lot of them...) and... where is that big person with loads of life experience who is going to help you and give you advice? Or some younger person to give the life experience too, or tease?

There are downsides to both relationships -- and unfortunately, you can't really pick and choose which you're gonna be.

... Unless you keep your parents from having another child or killing your sibling.

...Let's not think about that.

But to everyone his own, yeah?

My cousins seem happy with siblings, and I'm happy without.

Which do you prefer?

[on the other hand, Kris and Ivy are dating and I'm whut whut whut what is going on what when where how what I don't know what is grammar. What. ]