1. Close Parental Relationships
For me, one of the biggest #benefits of being an only child has always been my relationship with my parents. Part of that comes from the fact that they're only twenty years older than me, but there's much more than that. I was a mommy's girl and a daddy's #girl, and my parents never talked down to me. Although there were times, as a child, that my mom and dad were my friends, they were also my parents, always. They struck the perfect balance, so that I didn't get away with meltdowns, temper tantrums, and spoiled brat behavior. As I got older, however, and exhibited responsible decisions and good values, the seeds of friendship sown in my earlier years blossomed, so that now, my parents actually are my besties. I'd hang out with them even if we weren't related!