Do you think children need siblings?

I guess that's true, but in future children should be grown up adults who should work for themselves and not be dependent on their parents.

I have one sibling who's four years older than me.

I do have cousins but we never see each other as we live so far apart. I don't consider them family as they're complete strangers to me.

I'm not planning on having children anyway (I suffer from fertility problems and there are more valuable things I'd rather spend my money on than IVF), but if I did, I'd only want one, as I'd rather give them more in opportunities. Having siblings and cousins doesn't mean they'd want to associate with each other.

Blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb.

Yes, and that is why many people want to give them a superior education and life experiences so they can be completely independent.

I have a sister, I would never have wanted a brother though. I think If I had a boy I might just leave it at that, at one, having a brother would suck.

My first and only half sibling was born when I was 14 and I think especially after dad died, having a sibling then would have helped me emotionally. So I d like to have 2 or 3 children myself. I wouldn't want them to be lonely like I was.

Oh okay, everyone has different experiences. I don't have fertility issues but I guess my issue is growing up I didn't have cousins to play with so I'm very thankful I had my sister to play with and do stuff with. When I have my own children, I want them to be close with my sister and brother children. I want them to have something I never got to experience.

I don't want lots of children, I'd be happy with 2. But I'd like to have 3 max, no more than 3.

My Dad didn't have superior education, but he managed to take care of his 3 children fine and I didn't miss out on anything. Guaranted, I wasn't privately educated but I wouldn't trade this for anything.

Here's a quick rundown:
I have two brothers, 19, and 23 (their ages, NOT their names) and I'm expecting the 19 year old to have a kid very soon, because he and his girlfriend have a place of their own now. I have four aunts and three uncles on my dad's side of the family, and just one uncle on my mum's side. I have 32 cousins on my dad's side (my family breed like dogs!) and just one cousin on my mum's side. I do not plan on having children in the future (partly because I'm not in love with the idea of having kids, and also because...well you figure it out) but I do want to become an uncle at some point. This is the thing though; many of my cousins have already become grandparents, which means I have a few first cousins, twice removed (Google how a family tree works) and I'm only 15 years old.
So basically, it's customary to have a few kids in my family. I've never been too sure why though.

i think its important, esp bc im an only child, i feel as though i need a sibling in my life :/

I had my friends. Siblings are redundant for companionship when you have friends from school and outside activities.

I'm always patronised as I'm the youngest-I'm controlled a lot more than my elder sibling, hence why I resent having siblings so much.

I think it's important for children to socialise with other children, but that doesn't necessarily have to be a brother or sister. *Could be a neighbour, cousin or a friend from school instead.

I don't have any kind of a relationship with my brother. *He helped make my teenage years miserable and neither of us makes any effort with each other now. *I sometimes wish I had a sister though.

My boyfriend is close to his siblings though. *

I guess that's why you have negative views on siblings because of the way your sibling treats you. I have never once patronised or controlled my siblings, we may argue yes but they know I love them also.

I personally think, your sibling sounds like a nightmare no offence intended.

Not every sibling is that harsh with their siblings. I'm definitely not like that.

My 7 didn't always get along when they were younger, because they all have different personalities. They get along famously now.

It wasn't by my sibling, it was by my parents, because I'm the youngest child.

I don't need my sister and she doesn't need me. That's the way it should be.*

Yes. And it's a very good thing for a boy to have a brother.