Children without parents are known as orphans. Those without a spouse are termed widowed. Yet, there is no term for growing up without siblings. This absence of terminology may become more relevant as the numbers change.

Over the past five decades, American families have shifted. The proportion of mothers with only one child has increased from 11% in 1976 to around 20% today. Conversely, large families are diminishing. In 1976, 40% of mothers nearing the end of their childbearing years had four or more children. By 2014, this figure dropped to 14%. The total fertility rate in the U.S. reached a historic low of 1.6 births per woman by 2024, falling short of the 2.1 replacement rate.

This trend is not isolated to the United States. Many European Union countries now see one-child households as more prevalent than those with two or three children. It appears this pattern may extend to America as well.

In my time as an economist, small families were often viewed positively. The belief was simple: fewer children allowed for greater investment in each child. This ‘quality over quantity’ mindset became common among modern parents who aim to provide everything for their children.

However, my perspective shifted after talking with parents of large families. Conducting interviews with mothers of five or more children for my book, “Hannah’s Children,” revealed a contrasting viewpoint. These mothers, spanning various religious backgrounds, largely agreed that raising children with good character could be more manageable in larger families. Many noted that having siblings greatly contributed to a child’s upbringing in ways parents could not.