Stop Calling Siblings ‘Gifts’
This article challenges the cultural narrative that having a second child is a 'gift' to the first. It explores the complexities of family planning, including the potential for difficult sibling relationships and the financial realities of raising multiple children.
Why it matters
It critiques societal pressure on parents and highlights the importance of individual choice in family structure.
The term assumes that adding a child to a family is for the best. But that’s not always the case.
Illustration by Celia Jacobs August 4, 2026, 1:09 PM ET Share Save W ithin months of having her first child, Samantha Savran began hearing from family and friends that she should have a second. Doing so would be the greatest “gift” that she and her husband could give their son, people told them.
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