Mother of an Only Child Syndrome

Every day I spend time swatting off the comments and pressure from people in my life (and society) to have more than one child, so recently I've been reading a lot of articles on “Only Child Syndrome” to learn more about the benefits and negatives of being an only child.  Although, none of the studies I have read have shown any negative-long term effects on an only child, it got me to thinking... There has got to be a "Mother of an Only Child Syndrome."  Symptoms include: hovering, having too much time on your hands and the ability to turn any naughty behavior your child exhibits into a positive. 

After pondering these symptoms, I fear I am suffering from this syndrome... I'm wondering if I should see my doctor about this (well a doctor or a shrink).

I spend my days, morning to dusk, hovering; hovering around my sweet, sweet 2 year old.  So much so, that he actually walked me over to the corner of the sandbox at a park and told me to stay as he gallivanted to the other end to play with other children (although, I still maintain the thought that Chase would have had more fun building sandcastles with me and not those dirty-faced kids with mismatched socks- after all, I don't reek of dirty diaper and urine soaked sand.) But anyway, glad he had fun.......

I realize that I have a lot of time on my hands now that my only child can entertain himself for several minutes at a time (but apparently never when I am using the bathroom) and can feed himself.  So with all of my newly found extra time, I enjoy spending it matching his clothes.  I believe that Chase has a better, more well-round day when his socks match his shirt and his shorts match his blankie and his blankie matches his clothes for tomorrow.  :) 

The other night during supper Chase didn't want to eat (like normal, he feels like my cooking is slowing killing him- and he may be right). He picked up his meatball from his plate and hurled it across the kitchen.  When I asked him why he did that he simply said, "I had too."  I immediately thought, well his meatball does kind of resemble a ball, and balls are meant to be thrown, so I get where he coming from, instead of scolding him for this less than desirable behavior, which would have knocked this naughty behavior to the curb before it became an issue.  Now I spend most nights dodging flying food (that may or may not resemble sports equipment).  But who am I to deter him from playing sports and getting some physical exercise? Any who, I have just learned to wear a helmet at dinner. 

  

I am fully aware that if I had another child I wouldn't hover, obsess over matching clothes that are going to be pooped through or make excuses for naughty behavior, but as long as the studies show that I'm not raising Norman Bates, I'm cool with it.  I am not going to hide in silence anymore, I am proud to say that I have Mother of an Only Child Syndrome and I am proud to be their spokesperson (Ya know, I do have some extra time on my hands so I have nominated myself to be their spokesperson).