Instead of trying to convince those who don’t want kids to become parents, we should be grateful that more people are questioning their desire or ability to take on the journey of parenthood. Those who are not sure whether they want children are proceeding with caution. Child-free by choice people, like me, have slammed on the brakes altogether. I think society will be better for it. As a 27-year-old childfree woman, family, friends and even strangers have interrogated me as to why I’ve chosen not to parent. These questions are often disguised as wanting to understand your position but usually precede a statement aimed at changing your mind. As if being posed with the question, “What if you regret not having kids when you’re 60?” will unravel years of research, therapy, soul searching and whatever other factors led to your decision to not have children. I for one would rather wake up 30 years from now and regret not having children than to have children and be right about
Being Childfree has soo many perks! Most of the Childfree Besties will mention freedom, time to themselves or their spouses, clean homes, extra sleep, and extra spending money as the main benefits. I agree with all of those, but for me, the biggest benefit is the time I get to spend with my parents. I grew up with both my parents. We were a close-knit family, and I was well loved by them both. Of course, as a teen and young adult, my parents were not my favorite people to be around (all those “stupid” rules). In my mind, they were getting in my way of me spreading my little ignorant wings. As a woman closer to 40 than not, I now have a much deeper appreciation of my parents. We differ on several topics, and I have diverted from the plan I’m sure they envisioned for me as a child, but what can I say? I do my own thing! They have watched (likely through partially shielded eyes) as I have navigated my way around adulthood and grown into the person I am today. They don’t s