--- title: The only child: all the attention and wanting a sibling — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «The only child: all the attention and wanting a sibling», a lesson of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: With one child, all the parents' attention lands on one person: lovely, and sometimes heavy. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/) / [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/) / The only child: all the attention and… # The only child: all the attention and wanting a sibling Lesson 499 of the everyday course of Mova's primary school: 37 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/0/) — With one child, all the parents' attention lands on one person: lovely, and sometimes heavy. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/1/) — In Bangor, North Wales, both Mum and Dad come to every one of Bethan's netball matches and shout «Go on, Beth! - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/2/) — Go on, cariad!» («cariad» is Welsh for «love»). - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/3/) — When she misses a goal, she feels two pairs of eyes on her. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/4/) — In Birmingham, Nadia's parents check her homework every night and argue about whether her handwriting is neat enough. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/7/) — Some families have one child because they choose to, for money, time, health or just because. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/9/) — In Leicester, Teodor, whose parents came from Romania, asks for a baby brother for Christmas. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/10/) — Mum goes quiet, then says, «We wanted more babies, but it didn't happen, puiule» («puiule» is Romanian for «little chick», a pet name). - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/11/) — Teodor wishes he hadn't asked. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/12/) — It's okay that he asked; it is private and sad for his parents, and it is not his fault. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/13/) — A hug, and no more pushing. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/14/) — More presents, fewer people to share them with. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/17/) — Parents' time gets shared out between kids, so with one child there's more for each. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/18/) — In Perth, Australia, Lachlan's mate says, «Mate, you're spoilt rotten, you've got every console.» Lachlan is stung, then gives his old Switch to a cousin who hasn't got one. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/20/) — Only children can grow up fast in grown-up company. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/21/) — In Cardiff, Celestine, whose parents are both lawyers, says at a sleepover, «Statistically, we'll be tired tomorrow.» The other girls just want a pillow fight. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/22/) — She feels awkward, then joins in and loves it. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/23/) — In Kilkenny, Fionn lives with his mam. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/24/) — «You're my best pal, Fionn,» she says, and every Saturday she wants to go to the shops together, while Fionn wants to play football with the lads. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/25/) — He feels guilty leaving her. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/26/) — It's fine to tell Mam kindly: a good parent wants you to have mates your own age. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/27/) — In Harrogate, Yorkshire, Pip's three cousins stay for a week of summer: water fights, bunk beds, chips every night, absolute chaos. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/29/) — When they leave, the house feels empty. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/30/) — By the next morning, Pip's glad of the quiet. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/31/) — Liking noise and liking quiet can both be true. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/32/) — A family with one child is a complete family. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/33/) — In a family with one child, all the parents' attention goes to that child, which can feel lovely and sometimes like pressure. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/34/) — Parents may not realise that cheering or checking feels like pressure; telling them kindly usually helps. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/35/) — Asking for a deal, like checking homework only on Fridays, is a fair way to ask for more trust. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/36/) — Some parents choose to have one child, for money, time, health or just because. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/37/) — Some parents wanted more children and it didn't happen; that is private, often sad, and never the child's fault. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/38/) — Parents' time is shared between their children, so an only child often gets more of it. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/39/) — Only children may get more presents but have no brother or sister to share the day with; inviting cousins or friends helps. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/40/) — Having a lot is not the same as being spoilt; being kind and sharing is what matters. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/41/) — Only children may talk like adults from time with grown-ups, and they still need silly time with kids. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/42/) — A parent on their own may lean on an only child for company, but a child needs friends of his own age. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/499-the-only-child-all-the-attention-and-wanting-a-sibling/43/) — It is normal to love company and then want quiet; a family with one child is a complete family. - ← previous: [The only child: a quiet house](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/498-the-only-child-a-quiet-house/) - next →: [The big sister: bossy, protective, borrowing your stuff](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/500-the-big-sister-bossy-protective-borrowing-your-stuff/) - ↑ back to [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/)