Sister Act

I have always, always wanted siblings. I'd imagine an older brother and/or sister, and as a only child you can imagine it was very lonely and isolating experience. I mean of course I had friends to hang out with, but there was never that 'sibling rivalry or bond' that all my friends (who had brothers or sisters) had. And they always moaned that it was a good thing I was an only child, but as they've grown older their bonds with their sisters or brothers grow stronger. But still I regard my best friend as a sister so that counts still I guess?

My mother was one of fourteen (yes 14) children, one set of twins and even though they live in all parts of the world, that 'connection' is still prevalent, even if they only get to speak once every so often. And from that huge family you think that they would carry on the family tradition, but not so, only out of four or five of them have gone on to have one or two children (I guess they knew how hard it was to clothe and feed a big family) my mother had me when she was 36 (she unfortunately had a miscarriage six months into her pregnancy before she fell pregnant with me) back in 1978. When I turned five years old my parents thought it might be good to try for a baby brother or sister for me, but back then the doctors pretty much told them because of her age it would be unlikely that she would fall pregnant, miscarry easily or have a disabled child! These days its pretty much the norm for many woman in their forties to have their children, but back then it wasn't simple because of the limited resources, my how times have changed!