My post took a while and others posted in the meantime...

I just want to say perhaps it might be helpful to look at guilt differently. Human beings thrive in negotiating and sharing and learning how to do that. An only child gets it all - lots of attention and time. It's natural. My oldest is still an attention seeker - always wanting the lime light. However, she has learnt to share and to negotiate because she has 4 siblings. She has learned not to be so selfish & she is stretched to think of others... As are her siblings. To me that is a far greater gift than having me all to herself and not knowing what it means to stretch and grow in a family.

I understand the guilt but let's balance it up with the gains too!