Help For Those Parenting An Only Child

Are you the parent of an only child? Has it been asegment of the population has trouble conceiving the
challenge for you? If you're like us, you have to besecond time around. Do you think that has stopped our
creative in keeping your little one occupied. Otherwise,son from reminding us that he would love a brother or
you get to relive your childhood all over again becausesister...soon? Of course not!
you become your child's consummate playmate.So, we've implemented what we call "Operation
I always imagined I'd have a houseful of children. ThereBrotherly Love". Our son is clueless when it comes to
were five of us growing up, and in my young heart, IO.B.L. But, he joyfully reaps the benefits of the system
dreamed that I would have the same number ofwe put in place for entertaining our little one.
children my parents had because of all the fun (andBeing an only child, we worried that it would cause our
sometimes mischief) my siblings and I had with oneson to be shy. And at first, he was. But thanks to
another. If anyone would've told me that by the time"Operation Brotherly Love," I'm proud to announce that
my son turned ten that he would not have any siblings,our boy is a social butterfly.
I would've laughed and called them crazy! But, that'sHere's what O.B.L. is all about: surrounding your child
just what happened.with other children that they can interact with! And boy
Getting pregnant with our one and only was a cinch. Inis it fun! Enlist help from neighbors! Get to know the
fact, it was so easy, my husband and I thought weparents of classmates. Got nieces or nephews?
were Mr. and Mrs. Fertility. We knew for sure BabyThey're the perfect playmates for your
Number Two would come as natural as the sun risingunaccompanied minor!
in the east. You can probably imagine ourGranted, this may cause your house to look like the
disappointment when after a year of trying again, andlocal recreation center on the weekend, but it certainly
still no baby for the effort.gives you a break from having to spend countless
Fortunately, in our case, neither of us had any healthhours playing dolls or video games. My son now has
problems. For whatever reason, it just hadn't happened.more "sisters and brothers" to play with than any other
To our surprise, we were informed that a largechild I know. Yours can, too!