In today's world I have met more than a few people who were the "only child." I found that interesting when we began our journey to adopt.

One of my best girlfriends is an only child. She recently lost her mom, the last person in her family unit. Her dad had died years before so she and her mom were really close. Needless to say she has been in a depression since mom died.

I have kind of looked after her and invited her to spend holidays with us. My family loves to have her come visit. Sometimes you can see the sadness on her face when everyone is happily teasing and giggling the day away.

We have talked a lot and she has told me she would have loved more of a family unit; that since her mom and dad are gone she feels so lonely. She often tells me I'm the sister that she never had. At the same time I still take on a Mommy tone now and then when I think she is getting out of line in her life.

There are books out on the subject like "The Only Child" which can be found with a lot of other info at: http://www.onlychild.com/home.html.

I found it helpful to read up on how to parent an only child and I did some research on line. Some of the places I like to visit are:
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/parents/singlechild.html
http://wawa.essortment.com/firstbornchild_rsod.htm

With a little research. It helped us make up our minds to try and adopt sibling units and help keep kids together.

When I ask my friend Christie about adoption, she always says that she wants to have at least one biological child, but she would adopt a second child so she never faced leaving one child alone in the world like her mom and dad had done.

Being an only child has its advantages too I am sure. Never having to share a room or your parents' love and devotion. But I am just as sure that it has its disadvantages.

So food for thought on your journey to adopt. How many children will make your world brighter? Is one child enough? Or can you handle two?