Regrets?

I was an only child for 10 years. Loved it. Read a lot. Did wild swimming with school friends etc. Along came half sister and because my parents were getting on a bit I was expected to play mother. Put me off being a mum myself totally as she was a nightmare, stealing from the local grocery etc. My husband encouraged me to have my own child. What a revelation. He’s been fantastic. A caring and generous young man with a lovely partner I think of as my daughter. My half sister is bitter and lonely. So sad to see.

I didn't have cousins either nightowl so no close peer relationships when I was young, maybe that's why I never really bothered about siblings. I agree it would be nice to have someone to share memories with etc. My father died when I was 16 and my mother after an extremely brief illness so I didn't have the worries about care for them. I feel sorry for all the posters on here struggling with the care of their parents as well as their own families, must be so difficult.

I had eight siblings but one died young we all have a similar personality we are all competitive. I only get on with two of my siblings I don’t see the others there is distance between us too.

My DH is an only child and I don’t think he was welcomed his parents were not interested he was considered a mistake. It’s sad really he would have loved a sister or brother. He grew up lonely and had to entertain himself and was basically a latch key kid.

I think it would be a wonderful experience to discover a sibling or two on Long Lost Family. After a lifetime of being alone you would treasure them and be more likely to be close.

Think that may be fairy story time Chestnut

I know I was lucky in so many ways sodapop. I do treasure my memories and the cousin I have recently connected with. Maybe I came across as feeling sorry for myself, I don’t really, just feel a little wistful for what might have been.

I’m sorry you lost your father so young, and I agree about posters struggling to look after elderly parents. I certainly regret not doing more for my mum.

Thank you Nightowl. People like you are so kind.
I've always told myself that there are others far worse off.