The Only Child

As a child utterly different from the rest,I too have found repose in Hashems love,where else? Reply

The heart of a mother Just as the Aron Hakodesh, the Holy Ark, is beyond measurements, so the heart of a mother is beyond measurement. 100% of her heart is given over in love to her husband. This does not stop giving 100% of her heart over to her first born. Which in turn takes away absolutely nothing and there is still 100% to give to each of her children and grandchildren. Truly loving them of all of her heart - just as an only child. So true. So true. Reply

Regardless of Rebbe's comments, there ARE some abused only children. Anonymous says "But in looking at what I have written I also know that there are children in families whose parents do not love them."

This is certainly true of some "only" children, especially "accidents" born before the 1960s. Unwanted children may be loved anyway...or they may not.

Verbal abuse, physical abuse, emotional abandonment & physical abandonment. Leaving a child in the care of someone who commits even worse abuses, as if the parents hope the "caretaker" will rid them of the child. Even if parents are merely negligent in choosing caretakers, the child experiences the fact of caretaker abuse as authorized by the parents.

If the parents are simply busy, the child loves the parents anyway and experiences even the loneliness of neglect as expressing unlove.

Must you justify the Rebbe's words by insisting that abused "only" children must regard this as "love"?

Do you really want to imply that abuse is the kind of "love" that such children deserve? Reply

I was number 4 out of 7 children (2 girls, 5 boys). It was also lonely. My sister is 5 1/2 years older and not being a boy made me literally the odd man out. I had one child and made a point of moving from CA back to CO so she would have access to the larger family. She became very close with many of her cousins. However, I think she was lonely too. I think G-d allows us to experience loneliness because he wants to be the one who fills the void. Reply

Only Child I was an only child and was very lonely. I always wanted a sister or a brother. Things of this world are not as important as the love parents can give. Mine both worked and I was a latch key kid. When Mom got home from work, she was too stressed to listen to me and I had no one to talk to. It was a very lonely life. but now I had 3 children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild and they don't bother with me so I'm still alone. My parents did the best they could at the time and I am thankful for that. Reply

Only Child Hi Being an only child and still feeling it when friends talk of sisters and brothers, I thank you for this as it's made my day - Jane Reply

Only Child I have one child. I love him with all my heart and would sacrifice anything for him. If I had two children of course I would love them both as much as one child.

The meaning to me is that G-D sees us each as an individual and loves us one to one. Not just the nation of Israel, but each single Jew as a single soul connected to him.

But in looking at what I have written I also know that there are children in families who's parents do not love them. Not a only child and sometimes many children. Is that a reflection of the world above? I hope not. I hope that there is a lesson in that too. Reply

yes indeed Ela Simply because they have more time to spoil the single & only child & tend to go overboard realising the scarcity & risk of loosing the only one ! Reply

Do parents really love an only child more than if they had a few children-- is that love less than the love for an only child? Reply