How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.

Psychiatric knowledge has sunk so far into everyday practice that almost everyone now regards an only child as an unfortunate child. The reasons for this judgment are very sound. The only child grows up as the central point of a tiny universe, and because of the narrow confines of his little firmament, his every act seems inordinately important to his parents. Then, too, the parents of 'an only child are likely to be less courageous than parents who assume the responsibilities of three or four children, although this is no universal rule. The emotional attitudes of parents and relatives toward an only child are very likely to be over-tense. He is loved harder, cared for more solicitously, guarded more preciously and subjected to a more rigorous scrutiny than a child in a large family. His virtues are usually overpraised, his deficiencies usually made the source of supreme anxiety and worry, while his minor illnesses are allowed to become the object of endless concern. As we shall indicate in the chapter on the technique of living, self-reliance, independence, courage, and a well developed social sense, as well as the spice of a sense of humour, are the best tools we know for carving out a successful and happy life. You can easily see how the special situation of the only child is unfavourable for the development of these tools. Dependence, anxiety, doubt, egoism, and the sort of tyranny that is implied in the phrase, “ because I love you, you must do what I want ” are far more likely to develop in the case of the only child or of any child who for a period of two or more years assumes a position of non-competitive uniqueness in his family. Now suppose that a child who has been an only child for three years is followed by another child. He has already become accustomed to the advantages of his unique position, and suddenly, with little or no warning, his kingdom is divided, and he usually comes off at a disadvantage because the new-born child requires exceptional attention and temporarily receives excessive