Only children during quarantine- how is it going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am only child who for some time lived a weird life without socialization due to my mother’s mental illness.

I read all day. I am now EXTREMELY well read!

Woah, same here pp. I thought I was unique but I guess not!

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old is fine. We garden and climb in the backyard and take walks. He’s been insisting on rotating books a lot more often, by other than that we haven’t even pulled out any new toys or anything.

[Anonymous]

It hit my 10 yo only child today that he can’t play with his friends. We live next door to a family with a bunch of kids and he can hear them playing. It’s so nice out and he wanted to go play, but the family isn’t quarantined, they had a party last night. So I told my son he couldn’t play with them and he had a meltdown. An hour later he’s fine. I expect there to be more ups and downs. Honestly, I’m hoping for bad weather so everyone stays inside.

[Anonymous]

Looks like you are trying to take a dig at only kids. Mines doing great. If I were a kid, my sibling would have been completely cruel to me and I was far better off not being born since I was the second since both parents and sibling really never wanted me. (thank goodness for limited to no contact now). Some siblings are a blessing, some not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think only children would actually fair the best in this situation ... they are a lot more independent. I find it odd that OP is worrying about this when she has 3 kids to care for.

She probably has the oldest watching the little ones so she doesn't have to spend time with them. With an only, you get to spend that time with them.

[Anonymous]

My 9DD is sad as she looks around and sees a lot of my idiot neighbors letting their kids play together or siblings running around together.

Fortunately, she has a full day of school (private so it is mandatory and “counts”) to help distract her, and Google classroom allows for some interaction with classmates.

She has FT’d with a few friends, but that hasn’t been terribly fun as there isn’t a lot to talk about. She’s an introvert and gabbing on FT isn’t very natural for her.

I’m doing my best to make her feel connected and saying “yes” to almost anything she wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot imagine how only children are doing during social quarantine right now. Especially younger ones who can’t be entertained with a device or themselves. My two are 3 and 5 and are playing together non-stop both inside and outside in the back yard. We are working and taking care of a newborn as well. I am not sure what I would do if I had to entertain them non stop as well.

I feel bad for your first two. You are focusing on work and the baby and aren't spending time with them. How sad you don't know how to entertain your kids. Maybe now would be a good time.

[Anonymous]

My 5 and 7 yo’s are fighting nonstop. An only child sounds Peaceful.

[Anonymous]

My 11yo is hanging in there. She misses seeing other kids in person but she generally likes to be at home, and she’s enjoying the ramped up screen time, which we’re giving her so she can communicate with friends. I do think she’s be happier if she had a sibling she was close to, but unhappier if she had a sibling she found annoying. Thankfully there’s always the dog for her to snuggle.

[Anonymous]

My six year old only is so happy. He does Marco Polo and email with his friends and FaceTimes with family, and I’m homeschooling him. He loves that school is closed, that he gets more time w Us and our dog, and is happily coming on hour long walks with me every day. Other than that his imaginative play is bursting right now. Every time he gets the chance he runs back to his action figures who are engaged in an epic battle.

I know it depends on the kid’s personality but my only is social with kids and fine alone as well. He will be happy to see his friends when he can, but so far he’s great. Also, we see lots of people from school on our walks. We give 6+ feet space, but it’s nice to see familiar faces and the kids chat for a few minutes.

[Anonymous]

My only 9 year old DD is also happy and taking everything in stride. We are keeping a "school schedule" from 9am-3pm with lots of breaks. She's checked in with friends via Facetime and is writing letters to be a penpal to out of town friends.
I second the PP that said they are feeling pretty grateful for just having 1 kid during this!!

[Anonymous]

My 6 year old DS is LOVING this week. (I’m dying, but he wakes up every day saying, “isn’t it great school is closed until Easter?” He gets so much more mommy time than usual, we’ve been going on super long walks, driving to empty parks to play in open fields, arts and craft-ing like mad. If I had to work full time hours from home maybe it would suck, but I’m flexing with DH to cover the day. DS hasn’t pulled out the switch yet—despite me stashing a few new games in the closet last week for when I figured we would be crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 10 year old is an introverted homebody and happy as a clam. He spends several hours per day gaming with his school friends, shrieking and laughing. Then he does his own thing. In the evenings, we snuggle up and watch television together. If it weren't for the fear and worry, we'd be having the most laid-back vacation ever.

Not a permanent plan, but we're getting along fine! Good luck with your trio.

My 12 year old daughter is also an introverted homebody and is also happy as a clam. She too is spending time playing video games online with her friends and having a blast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4 year old only, and am grateful we don't also have a younger one to deal with now. But, I wouldn't mind an older one to play with him! It has been hard, he misses his friends and really cant/wont play alone. But it's so much better than I imagine it would be with a baby or toddler in the picture as well.

+1 I have a 4.5yo, and I'm so glad I don't also have a younger one. I have nothing but sympathy for people stuck trying to work from home with toddlers.

[Anonymous]

My son is doing ok. I am allowing him to get together with another only child friend.