Only Child Syndrome - In Dating
The environment and way in which you were brought up can deeply affect many different areas of your life. In this article in particular, we'll be observing how being an only child affects your romantic relationships. From being too independent to having a solid relationship with your own and your partner's parents, there are plenty of positives and negatives depending on the situation. Here are 20 for starters!
1. They Have A Good Relationship With Their Parents
Growing up, only children only have their parents to stick to on a day-to-day basis, meaning it's easy to develop a good relationship as long as both parties put in the effort. It's something that works in their favor too when it comes to the dating realm; sons and daughters who get along well with their moms and dads are incredibly attractive.
2. They Seek Attention A Lot
Given that they likely received all the attention at home when growing up, only children might display attention-seeking behavior when entering relationships. It's not necessarily a bad trait, it might just mean your partner really values being present and actively listening to each other. Attention can come in many different forms.
3. They Can Be A Bit Self-Centered
Used to getting their way growing up since there wasn't any competition, only children can carry their selfish tendencies into relationships. They're not used to competing with others for resources, something which you'll have to learn to do when you enter a mature adult partnership with someone else.
4. They're Independent
Without an older or younger sibling to rely on or play games with, only children tend to be independent because they have to be. This translates well into relationships, as long as they don't become so independent that they leave their partners out of decision making!
5. They're Good Conversationalists
Only children tend to be surrounded by adults when growing up, whether it's their parents or outings with their parents' friends, meaning they adopt fantastic social skills at an early age. So if your partner is a great conversationalist that charmed you on your first date, we wouldn't be surprised if they were an only child.
6. A Desire To Impress
Perhaps having felt pressure from their parents to succeed as the only child in the family, these partners might display a constant desire to impress you within the relationship. They seek your approval or love hearing compliments because it means they matched your expectations.
7. Bad With Reading The Room
Not having to think of other's emotions all the time, only children can be pretty bad with reading the room. So if your partner has a hard time understanding what you're feeling, don't be so hard on them. They missed out on being surrounded by others growing up and having to deal with their emotions, something that develops this skill.
8. Struggle To Express Emotions
Without having the experience of dealing with siblings growing up, your partner might struggle to openly express their emotions in your relationship. They might try to internalize everything, perhaps having been used to doing so due to being independent and alone all the time.
9. Poor Conflict Resolution Skills
If your partner doesn't have any siblings, there's a chance they missed out on building conflict resolution skills as a child. After all, brothers and sisters are known for constantly bickering and arguing as kids, meaning the only way to find peace was to talk things out. It's a crucial step in development that teaches the importance of thoughtful resolution.
10. Independent Hobbies
Does your partner love reading, crocheting, or doing arts and crafts? If they tend to veer towards independent, solo hobbies, chances are they're an only child. Without any siblings to play with, they had to resort to these types of activities to pass the time.
11. Value Alone Time
If your partner asks for alone time occasionally, don't be offended. It isn't because they don't appreciate your company, it's because alone time allows them to decompress and relax. Only children don't feel a need to replace the silence with noise, they thrive in it instead.
12. Gets Along With Your Parents
If they get along with their own parents, of course they're going to get along with yours! Not only are they comfortable with interacting with adults, they're going to put in the extra effort to make your mom and dad love them.
13. Doesn't Like Asking For Help
Independence can be a good thing when it helps your partner feel competent and confident, but it can be negative if it prevents them from asking for help. It's not uncommon for only children to display resistance in this aspect, coming from a place of believing they're better off alone. It can be dangerous in a relationship though, especially if your partner starts turning even you away.
14. Pressure From Parents
If your partner tends to fold from parental pressure, it's likely because they're used to following their rules and expectations all their life. Without other siblings to live up to what they want, only children experience a lot of stress because their parents focus all their hopes and dreams on them. It can become harmful to the relationship though if they start valuing their parent's input more than yours.
Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash
15. They Don't Take Criticism Well
Being an only child is multi-faceted though - some grow to be very independent, while others turn out spoiled. If you're dating someone who's the latter, it might be difficult having serious discussions about their behavior. That's because they likely won't take criticism well after having been praised by their parents their whole life.
16. They're Good Decision-Makers
Without having to fight against others on what movie to watch, what restaurant to go to, or what toy to buy, only children grow to be solid decision-makers that know exactly what they want. Which is great for relationships, especially if the other person is incredibly indecisive! No more spending hours on deciding what to have for dinner.
Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash
17. They Might Display Jealousy
Not used to having to "share" with others, your partner might display moments of jealousy if you hang out with other friends or companions. This is only because if they were spoiled growing up, they won't be familiar with things not going their way. They won't understand why you have other priorities.
18. Strong Desire To Start A Family
In some scenarios, being with someone who grew up as an only child might fuel their desire to want to start their own family. They might want to have multiple kids, having understood the difficulties of growing up alone. This can be difficult if future goals between the couple don't align.
19. Appreciates Quality Time
It's not surprising that only children grow up to be adults who value quality time as their primary love language. They absolutely adore spending time with their most loved one, relishing in the moments and experiences shared together. If one thing's for certain, some only children learn to truly appreciate quality time.
20. High Levels Of Stubbornness
Most only children are used to doing things their way, which means when they enter a relationship, they won't be as open to accepting things they're unfamiliar with. Whether it's a new way to cook a recipe or a new nighttime routine, they'll definitely prefer to do things their way for as long as possible (which could lead to some arguments for the couple).
