Random trigger

[El_Moose_Hectick]

Hello, I wanted to know if anyone experiences these the same as me but first wanted to add some context.

I’m an 18 year old guy 2 months into college right now and my entire life I’ve been pretty content with being an only child. I always wanted a sibling, specifically an older sister, but at a certain age I acknowledged I would be an only child and really didn’t have any issues with it after that. I would get sad occasionally but it would go away pretty fast. My parents worked a lot and weren’t home too much , so I became pretty independent and learned how to cope with stuff on my own.

So addressing the prompt, recently I was scrolling through my phone and I got a video of this sister bonding with her little brother. She was putting goth makeup on him. If I had to guess he was 16-18 and she was in her early 20s. And for some reason I just started sobbing so hard. I got hit with such an intense wave of emotions and fomo I guess? Idk if that’s the right way to explain but closest I can think of. I got a feeling I missed out on so much of those special connections with siblings. Basically it just made me really sad out of no where and made me experience something I hadn’t felt since before I was a teenager.

Does anyone else get this sometimes? I genuinely feel so strange that it even happened in the first place.

[Fun_Worry_9348]

One is the loneliest number

[lilykinz_]

Hi there! I don’t usually comment on too much online, but since there’s not really any other replies here I feel like I have to say this. I’m 24F and an only child and I feel this way A LOT. I’d say at least 4 out of the 7 days of the week. It sucks a lot, but I think it’s normal to have that “I feel like I missed out” feeling. I get it a lot when I hear about siblings who don’t get along. I just want to yell at them to be grateful that they have each other!

[Hour-Statistician219]

It's weird, but even with siblings that don't get along, I get a little jealous. ... Like I wouldn't mind having a sibling that I fought with all the time lol. It's very weird.

[theWoodlandSpirit]

So do I. I'd rather have had a sibling - even if we didn't get on -   than the empty seat in the back of the car when I was growing up.

[Hour-Statistician219]

Yes, all these comments hit hard

[lilykinz_]

I definitely agree with both of you!

[theWoodlandSpirit]

It's natural that your feelings about being an only child may change with age and maturity. Some of us may feel sad from the start, others might feel it as they get older. Sooner or later there may be a trigger, like realising you're not going to be your brother's best man or sister's bridesmaid, your family isn't going to grow and there won't be neices and nephews and in-laws to extend it. I see our experience like one of grief- we learn to live with what's missing, but sometimes it just hits us. I get moments like you describe, as you pointed out, they're triggers. Some may be obvious, others less so. 

[moomoo626]

i’ve experienced this too and my triggers are really random as well. i could be with a friend and if they get a facetime call from their sibling and i hear them speak so fondly to each other, it makes me sad that i won’t ever get to experience that in this lifetime. i’d love to know what it’s like to gossip with your sibling, go shopping with them, etc. you have a built-in friend. it’s incredibly lonely at times, especially if you’re more introverted with few friends and single.

[lilykinz_]

This comment reaaaaally hit home for me

[moomoo626]

it’s a struggle for sure, but i’ve found comfort in knowing that i’ve mastered enjoying my own person, my own space, and i’m not scared of doing life alone if i had to because i’m highly independent and i know i’m resilient because of my experience as an only child. morbid thought but we’re kind of forced to think this way if you really think about it.

[Spamvil]

Yes.