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I'm behind, but it's an interesting discussion...
I'm about as anti only child as you can get. My father was one, and it shines through very very strongly in most of his life choices and living patterns even into his glory years. Nearly every other single child I know has the same issues and tendencies. It's quite the people watching topic.
I have one sibling and my parents lost a child, a boy, at birth. I often wonder how having an older brother would have change me. My sister and I are opposites in many ways and I have no doubt if she was an only child she would be one miserable bitch for anyone who crossed her path. She has 3 kids and when big life decisions come up she often calls me for my more level headed views. Not that she follows my opinion, but she knows what she gets when she calls and can weigh it on her own. I also invite her into some of my business dealings when needed because I know her approach and general attitude can be a benefit for everyone involved when it is needed. Being able to feed off each other and learn from our differences growing up has been a huge asset in life, no doubt about it.
I do not believe I have kids, so as of now our parents end of life situation should be rather simple even though there will be a rather large figure in the form of assets built over three generations at stake. Much to my surprise, she has matured to understand we grew up very financially poor and asset rich and she has put next to zero work and absolutely no money at risk into pushing the stack over the hump to where it is and you can tell it influences her input when such discussions rarely arise. There is something that we are going to disagree on, but the way her kids are maturing I believe it's going to work itself out without either of us arguing over it. I could be very wrong, but only time will tell.
I understand we're just one of a billion scenarios, but I can't envision how either of us would be being better off as people or financially if we were single siblings.
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