ADVERTISEMENT

Imagine waking up on Christmas morning and not having any siblings to share in your excitement for the day. Imagine not having to “rock paper scissors” for the last slice of pizza. Imagine getting up to go to the bathroom and returning to find your favorite seat still open and waiting for you. Imagine never having to compromise on what you want for dinner.

Ah, the elusive life of an only child. Of course, 20% of people in the world know exactly what it’s like to grow up without siblings. But for those of us who grew up wearing hand-me-downs and squeezing into the dreaded middle car seat, there are some dead giveaways that someone else was an only child. Reddit users have recently been discussing these traits, so you’ll find some of their most spot on responses below, as well as some thoughts from only children on what makes them unique!

#1

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I told my bf to close his eyes and open his mouth(I was surprising him with candy), and he just did it with no suspicion at all.

People with siblings can’t trust like that.

cowsofoblivion , Everyday_matters Report

#2

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I can't tell for adults, but when it's one of my kids' friends, the kid who ends up trying to hang out with the adults and gets overwhelmed by being in a group of kids has been an only child 100% of the time in my experience.

ifnotmewh0 , Ben Wicks Report

#3

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On From my own experience, not being as prone to loneliness. The only time I really feel lonely is when I'm around people I'd rather not be with.

DeathSpiral321 , Felipe Cespedes Report

#4

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On Thinking friendship is like having siblings. Its not. I would never smash a toy on my friend's head and expect them to speak to me after.

Useful_Jello2910 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On Pretty good at keeping ourselves entertained or doing things alone/being independent.

stefeezy , George Milton Report

#6

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On Only child here. As a kid, I couldn’t relate to other children. Their behavior was completely foreign to me. Even now that I’m old, most people seem odd.

MeowMeowCollyer , note thanun Report

#7

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On They can get s**t done without asking for help. Example- I’ve had people calling me to assist them in making the bed because they needed somebody to hold the other corner of the sheet?? Dude, this is not a 2 people job! I was doing something else and you require assistance with a piece of cotton?

Same goes for putting together furniture. ‘Takes 2 people to assemble’ . Sure. It takes 2 people to assemble unless they are an only child, then it just takes the one.

nytropy , Christin Hume Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On On a more positive note… from personal experience, being secure with doing things alone

gaiajess18 , Kalen Emsley Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I am an only child… I’ve noticed I tend to make a lot of life choices on my own and don’t seek out a lot of advice or ask for help when I could definitely use it. In fact, I’ve been pretty deep in tough situations when I finally have the realization that there are people and resources I can utilize. It’s not so much I’m worried about asking for help, more like it doesn’t even register in my brain that there is help outside of myself.

Jaded_Syrup2454 , Elisa Ventur Report

#10

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On When they get [mad] that things aren't done the way they think it should be done because they've never had to compromise with anyone before.

StuBidasol , Christian Erfurt Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I’m an only child. One huge difference I see time and time again with those who have siblings—they had much more exposure to a longer timespan of media/music/games growing up. My idea of nostalgia consists of my specific timeline of media growing up, but those with siblings were able to watch tv shows their older brother watched, or knows about that game their little sister played.

DopeYeti , Clem Onojeghuo Report

#12

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On Wishing they had siblings.

Someone with siblings probably wishes they were an only child.

kindofaknight , Kelly Sikkema Report

#13

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On They enjoy quiet houses.

Alton573 , Kara Eads Report

#14

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On My husband HATES sharing food!
He is also very good at keeping himself entertained and busy- this was very evident during Covid when I was soooo bored and lost because all my previous hobbies and pastimes were outside the home and/or social activities, however, he just kept going and picked up so many new little hobbies that were independent

badjmsbe , Klara Kulikova Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On For me, it's when someone has no idea what non-food items taste like (dog treats, shaving cream, etc.)

PensionImpressive962 , okeykat Report

#16

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I hate being an only child as an adult. I don't really care that I was a main focus when I was a kid. If I don't have a partner I'm basically f****d emotionally and have no support when my parents inevitably become ill.

Toesinbath , Matthias Zomer Report

#17

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I heard once that only children are less likely to announce where they are going when they leave a room. Right away, I realized I'm like that, but my partner, who grew up with two sisters, tells me where he's about to go when he moves, even if it's to the bathroom.

NcularOrchid , Charlotte May Report

#18

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On From personal experience, food habits. Like buying snacks to store at home and fully expecting them to not have been touched when you’re gone, or eating slower at the dinner table because you’re not fighting over the good food.

As a teen, on the rare occasion my dad would steal a snack I got for myself I’d freak out, whereas my friends with siblings just resigned themselves to the fate of snacks inevitably disappearing. My mom eats super fast at meals, and she attributes it largely to growing up with siblings.

HornedTwiddle , Denny Müller Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#19

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On No tales of sibling violence

ButterEmails54 , Allen Taylor Report

#20

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On They are very deliberate in their chosen relationships, e.g. friendships, partners, and are usually extremely independent, at least in my experience.

ffffffffck , Dương Hữu Report

#21

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On They’re very quiet roommates in my experience. Sometimes don’t even know when they’re home. I hypothesize that they’re just used to quiet spaces and might feel uncomfortable when their surroundings get loud or chaotic. People with siblings are used to other people clanging around and making noise.

They need more alone time and aren’t scared of being home by themselves.

When they’re planning to go somewhere or do something, they don’t tell anyone or announce it. They just go do it.

As adults, they tend to live alone rather than with roommates, if circumstances allow it.

If their parents are either super young or super old compared to their peers’ parents, it’s more likely they’re the only kid.

IcyConsideration4714 , Sigmund Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I’m an only child. I hate sharing. If you wanted some cake, order yours do not eat my cake. Yes, I’m spoiled so what? I will not borrow your things if I can just buy my own. I don’t understand other people (who has siblings) who will ask to borrow and not return my things. It’s called stealing.

overthinkerxxx , Karolina Grabowska Report

Add photo comments
POST
Unicorn Chaos (Unicorn Chaos)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the part that I don't like..."Yes, I’m spoiled so what?" Uh, it's not ok to be a jerk because you're an only child spoiled brat?

Lemon_squeezy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree, but context matters. I do hate it when you ask if someone wants something to eat and they say no, but will dig their grubby hands into your food after you get it (and usually not even ask but regardless), which is annoying and immature. There's a difference between giving a bite vs actually having to share your food or drink entirely with someone. Kind of rude to expect someone to share with you, especially if they bought it themselves to eat. Don't mess with my food.

Load More Replies...
Mmm K
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am like this in many ways but certainly not "spoiled." I used to share so much more when I was younger and then I realized that many people took advantage of me, so I stopped doing it as much. I don't think it's selfish or spoiled to want to have boundaries with things that are your own.

Gracie Mae
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Neither a borrower nor lender be...even with siblings, I learned at an early age not to loan something out that you can't afford to lose (same with money)

kansasmagic
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's simple: you share the whole cake, not the single slice that was cut and plated for one person.

PlatinumThe8-BitCat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn’t an only child thing, I would never ever let my siblings have whatever I’m eating or use something that is mine

Julie S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No I don't want people eating my cake get your own cake. And yes I have a sibling.

Kelsie Marx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son is the only child, spoiled rotten, but I’m teaching him to share. 😀

Meredith Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter is an only child and hates sharing food. I also said to her when she was a senior in high school that I might be pregnant. She said if I had a baby she would throw it off the roof. This, coming from a lovely girl who is kind to others, but it's the only child syndrome showing up.

J
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have 3 kids and came from 3, so its normal to share deserts etc.

L Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It seems to me like a very selfish motive. One thing I noticed about adult children who have no siblings is their selfishness. It's not just sharing, but the overall lack of concern for anybody else's point of view.

Nykky
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Usually if I ask to try a piece of food, it's because I just want to see if it's something I'd want, or I didn't want a whole serving because I'm too full and just want to try. But I do take just about a half mouthful. The borrowing things I can understand though. If I ask to borrow something though, I will go through hell and high water to get your s**t back

David Henry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it's not spoiled, it's I don't want to likewise be left feeling hungry. If a friend couldn't afford or forgot to bring something? I don't mind sharing. But if they had/have opportunity to get their own? Nah, f**k off my plate.

BlueCat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'I'm spoiled so what?' So you're probably a crappy person to be around, and your life will reflect that.

Princess Moonkitty
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Went out to eat with my cousin and her then bf. He found it so weird that we ate off each other's plates, on the other hand not sharing each other's food is weird for us.

Tina Kathrarg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my sisters used to borrow my favorite clothes and when I wanted to wear them they were either dirty or damaged. It really made me angry because she was several years older and worked full time while I was using babysitting money to buy things because I was in school.

Kezza
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well me and my long time only child friend shares with me on the rule that we split it 50/50, then I eat the leftovers and feed the rhotty the rest

Be glad im not a waffle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah having siblings is essentially just stealing and being stolen from 24/7 with everything

sweetrottenpeaches
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This kind of behaviour is just s****y. It not depends on having siblings. OP experienced it because the majority has siblings.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On They feel the weight of both their parents' hopes and dreams as well as their needs. If you're an only child who grew up in a loving home, chances are you also had a lot of responsibility to make something out of all the time and resources your parents put into you.

insightful_monkey , Yosi Prihantoro Report

#24

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On Always weirds me out when people have games, consoles, collectibles, etc from their childhood. All of my stuff was either handed down to, broken, or lost by siblings.

ChildOfTheSoul , Pat Moin Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On I’m an only child, my husband is the oldest of 3.

For myself I can say that I have a hard time asking for help and try to be as independent as possible which doesn’t always work to my advantage.

I definitely was around more adults than kids growing up which meant my children were literally the first babies I had ever been around.

For some reason all of my friends (and husband included) eat way faster than me and they like to point that out.

I thrive in my alone time and need a lot of it to “recharge”. But I also hate that I constantly feel lonely even in large groups of people and have never been able to shake that feeling.

I have horrible anxiety about meeting new people, I’ll do it but I’ll almost make myself sick leading up to it because my anxiety gets to out of control.

Being a people pleaser is definitely up there and wanting to feel included.

xxyuliaxx , energepic.com Report

#26

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On My bf is an only child and it was his confusion at how I can be mad at my sister (who is also my roommate) one minute and turn around and get ice cream or go see a movie together.

He grew up with a bunch of cousins around his age, but it was the quick turnaround of “I’m so mad at you” to “I wanna hang out, let’s do something.”

sister-christian69 , Ignat Kushanrev Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On A really strong bond with their parents.

I have a brother, but only dated only child women troughout my life, and i noticed that they're tend to be way more "friends" with their parents than siblings does.

It's like my brother were always my partne during childhood/adolescence and to my ex gf, it was her dad or mom.

pitbulldofunk , Alberto Casetta Report

#28

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On As an only child I’ve been yelled at by multiple friends for wandering off alone, especially in grocery stores, without telling anyone where I’m going. And also my automatic “backseat of a car” position is legs out across the seats. Idk tho those are the only differences I ever notice

sunnyykiitt , Fikri Rasyid Report

#29

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On Really unique relationships with parents. They usually have a very rigid idea and perception their parents. For example, I have to call my mom every day or else she’ll worry, or my dad is always right about _____. I guess when you have siblings there’s more diversity in how you perceive your parents and their actions. But with only children they seem to lack that holistic perspective.

ninaw11 , Nienke Burgers Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

30 Signs Of An Only Child That People Pick Up On If he keeps getting calls asking him about his whereabouts when he is out

betterhealth69 , René Ranisch Report