One-and-Done Parenting

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why is having siblings becoming less common? The reasons for having an only child are numerous and diverse. Finances, sexual dysfunction, parent’s maturity level, clinical issues, and the desire to have only one are among them. Given the hardships of modern marriage, job demands, and the cost of child rearing, the rise in one-child families is understandable.

While single-child families remain a standard deviation, the number of one-child households has nearly doubled in the last 40 years. But even though having only one child is becoming the mainstream in many countries, there is still pressure to have more than one. Despite repeated arguments, stereotypes about only children being spoiled or unhappy is very apparent.

Parents say they feel pressured to have more children from everyone, from relatives to random strangers, that is why becoming a one-and-done parent is and always has been a tough choice, one to which they give a great deal of thought and occasionally may even doubt.

Read the article about one-and-done parenting.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230110-only-child-or-siblings-one-and-done

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to forego” mean? Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “one-and-done” mean in this sentence, ” Trying something new shouldn’t be a one-and-done exercise.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “background noise” mean here, “Even as deciding to be one-and-done becomes more common, this background noise means parents who make this choice often find themselves having to convince other people – and even themselves – that they’ve done the right thing.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How common is it to have only one child these days? Why do you think that is?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of only having one child?
  3. Are parents with only one child happier? Explain your stand.
  4. Does growing up as an only child have any impact on an individual? Discuss.
  5. How will the future be like with couples deciding to have fewer and fewer children?

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2 replies on “One-and-Done Parenting”

Vocabulary Questions:
1.Q What does “to forego” mean? Use this word in a sentence.
1A. I would say that “to forego” is to give up something or to reject doing something you don’t need.
For example: “I wouldn’t have forewent to work in an another country if my daughter had been older at that time”.

2Q. What does “one-and-done” mean in this sentence, ” Trying something new shouldn’t be a one-and-done exercise.”? Use this word in a sentence.
2A.It means that one is enough.
For example: “I jumped out from an airplane for skydiving last year, one-and-done”.

3Q. What “background noise” mean here, “Even as deciding to be one-and-done becomes more common, this background noise means parents who make this choice often find themselves having to convince other people – and even themselves – that they’ve done the right thing.” Use it in your own sentence.
3A. It basically means that you can suffer social pressure to do something.
For example: The President of Spain is getting a lot of background noise to stand for the election this year.

Discussion Questions:
1Q. How common is it to have only one child these days? Why do you think that is?
1A. It’s quite common these days. There are different reasons to explain this fact:
– In developed countries, women are working and they’re getting more rights to be considered equal to men.
– Human beings wants to increase their standard of living, so more children means less time and money.
– Aligned with the above bullet, mortgages and rents are higher and the fear of losing your job is increasing.

2Q. What are the benefits and drawbacks of only having one child?
2A. The main benefit is that you can save money and you give your child more privileges like a better education. In contrary, one children are usually more selfish because they’re not used to share with others and their behavior is worse.

3Q. Are parents with only one child happier? Explain your stand.
3A. I don’t think so. Maybe they can be more relaxed in all means.

4Q. Does growing up as an only child have any impact on an individual? Discuss.
4A. Perhaps an only child can become more independent when she/he grows up, but I have got the feeling that they have issues when trying to socialize with others. They think they’re right in all circumstances.

5Q. How will the future be like with couples deciding to have fewer and fewer children?
5A. I guess the retirement age will be longer than now. For example, in Spain in 2023 it’s 66 years and 4 months, 2 more months comparing to 2022.
Another trend in my country (not mentioned in the article) is that some couples are replacing children by dogs or cats. In fact, in Bilbao, important city in the north of Spain), there’re more dogs now than children (>15 years old). This is also a consequence of the pandemic.

You are doing a great job expressing your thoughts through your writing!

See how you can revise this sentence:

In fact, in Bilbao, important city in the north of Spain), there’re more dogs now than children (>15 years old).

In fact, in Bilbao, an important city in the north of Spain, there are now more families with pets such as dogs than children below 15 years old.

Keep up the good work!

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