I spent most of my childhood tending to my plants and pets while other four year old girls played with their Barbies.
As a child of four years, my time was mostly spent on nurturing my plants and pets while the other girls of my age played with their Barbies.
Being the only child, I had to remember to complete all of my chores or they would be left undone.
This fails to set up a clear link with the previous sentence. There's something missing :(
When I got a little older, my hens started laying eggs and to avoid throwing them away, I sold the eggs to my neighbors and saved up the money.
avoid throwing them away?I feel you better not include this part.