Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marcia Mush]

An Only Daughter Club

A few days ago I met a friend �Shao� on the MSN by chance. To spend the �stifling� spare time, we started our conversation from superficial things like boyfriend, shopping, music to weather and �what is your dinner today?� the most unimportant talking. And then we moved our chatting to a topic we couldn�t be familiar with anymore�we are both �the only daughters� in the family.
The stereotype of the only daughter: �wayward, arrogant, spoiled and, of course, hard to get along with.� However, Shao and I can hardly agree on that statement. Those characters are the authority of the �Mrs. Lady Wealthy� only; we are definitely not in that rank.
As for my experience, the truth is: there is a �relationship gap� for me to fill. Besides having a problem to throw a tantrum like an arrogant only daughter should be, I seem to have a bigger problem dealing with interpersonal relationship. Don�t get me wrong, I�m not autistic girl. I just don�t know how to express myself in a confident way, especially when I need to make new friends in an unfamiliar environment. Therefore, I get really nervous the first day in a new semester. I will pull a long face (as a matter of fact, I�ve had a long face.) and wait desperately for the decisive moment�the �please introduce yourself!� moment.
�Being shy� is a shared characteristic within the only daughter club. What else? The girl who becomes temporarily speechless in an active group or acts uneasily in front of the strangers can be counted for the symptoms of this mania.
However, as I grow older and older, I can better cope with the symptoms. I also realize that I�m not a celebrity type who attracts lots of people to accompany with. But once I make friends, they�ll become my lifelong fellows. I�m proud of the friendship and I�m proud of my identity�eternality for Only Daughter Club!

Mush Sep.25.2004

[guDga]

Hi!
I am an only daughter too (and not of a very rich family either). Reading what you wrote, was like reading about myself - relly, everything maches. Glad you are managing to cope with the problems - I am too . I don't think there is much more to say, so bye for now!
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