You have heard this sentence at least once in your life - “You look like an only child.”

Hmmm... Is that a backhanded compliment? Are you blatantly insulting me?

There will always be stigmas and stereotypes that you will grudgingly be associated with as an only child. The embarrassing part is when you fulfill these stereotypes sometimes.

Here are 10 signs you might relate to if you’re the only child.

1. People think you're really bad at sharing

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People assume you never had to share anything with a sibling. Growing up, you probably didn't have to experience waiting impatiently for your sibling to be done with browsing Friendster, or queuing up for the bathroom.

2. You actually are bad at sharing sometimes

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You have been in a situation where you had to withhold the urge to yell out “There is no ‘us’ in ramen, only ‘me’!” as someone tried to pick at your noodles.

3. Your parents have single-handedly redefined the term “overprotective”

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You have often found yourself at home while all your friends were at having late-night suppers at Al-Ameen or Jalan Kayu. You have to come up with an excuse with friends to maintain your street cred.

4. You have single-handedly redefined the term “study”

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Because that’s your go-to excuse when you want to convince the aforementioned overprotective parents that it is indeed vital that you have an extended curfew. You really need to study and do "project work" (read: have cheese prata at Al-Ameen) with your friends.

5. “When are you going to get married?”

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This is the most common question your family asks you. It is here that you gently remind them that you are only 16. *Especially applicable if you’re an only child in an Indian household.

6. You sometimes think you want a brother or a sister

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But these thoughts vanished when you notice your parents fawning over your new baby cousin during family gatherings.

7. You need to convince people you did not have an imaginary friend growing up

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You just manage better with a smaller inner circle of friends.

8. Your friends mean the world to you

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Sometimes you feel left out because you can’t experience the type of love your friends have towards their siblings. So instead, you channel all your affection and care to your closest friends.

9. Sometimes, you have really bad social skills

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And that’s okay. It happens to the best of us. Growing up as an only child might exacerbate this because your parents have often sheltered you too much. You might find it slightly harder to talk to new people but don’t take this as an excuse to begin your life as a hermit.

10. You are your parents’ biggest investment- I mean bundle of joy

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After all those years of funding your education and extravagant phone bills, they have now pinned all their hopes on you. Don't mess it up! Of course they expect you to repay them and spoil them in their golden years. And hey, you oblige because it’s the least you could do to show your gratitude after being a completely bratty child who never learned to take no for an answer.

Featured Photo from here.

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