Is it a difficult life for kids that are an only-child with a single parent?

[MikeB]

No way in hell I'm going to mention who I know that's  having this issue . But I REALLY need your opinion for fuck's sake, people!

[journey]

When my mother and father got divorced I had my twin and older brother to comfort me. Having siblings to support you through hard times certainly helps.

If a child doesn't have a support system such as siblings, cousins, close friends, and their parent works all the time, they may feel like they're all alone in the world. Whether or not life is more difficult depends on the overall situation of the family structure. If there is love within the small unit, their life shouldn't be too difficult.

[Tied-Up]

My oldest was an only child for 9 years, and I was a single parent for 8 of those 9 years. 

She had an excellent support system of great grandparents, aunts/uncles, and cousins, plus a lot of friends.  I think she is actually better adjusted and more mature than many girls her age as a result of those first 8 years of her life.  She adapts well to changes and is very well behaved -- much much more so than I was at her age.

I think that if a child is going to live in such an environment, what is important is that the parent make the child the number one priority -- not just in words but in practice.  It's easy to say 'my kid (or my family) is the most important person in my life' but it's another thing entirely to actually live in that statement, and make it real.  Children (whether they are in a single parent or two parent household) need to feel that kind of unconditional love, and know that there is someone there for them.