A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found that the US birth rate fell by 4% from 2019 to 2020, the sharpest single-year decline in almost 50 years, and the lowest number of births since 1979. With more and more people passing on the prospect of having children, childfree people are still seen with a fair share of stigma by society.
With so much pressure to experience parenthood and the joys and challenges that come with it, people who consciously choose not to do so have to find ways to build resilience and inner strength to stand up for themselves.
One such way is not taking things too seriously to begin with. Just like this Facebook page titled “Childfree Humor” which is created “for people who don't care much for kids and want to have a laugh about it.”
The page is home to almost 94k followers and it even has a humorous Etsy shop with bold and sarcastic childfreedom-related shirts. Scroll down below through a selection of “Childfree Humor” posts that range from painfully hilarious to all too relatable.
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Bored Panda reached out to the creator behind the Childfree Humor Facebook page who said that she comes from a conservative, Asian family where girls were trained to be good wives and mothers. “Getting married as soon as possible and having children immediately after was pretty much the only option you had once you grew up,” the creator said and added that “This was suffocating for me, I knew from a very young age that that life was not for me, but I was surrounded by people who had those expectations of me.”
“This page, which I started in 2013, was a way to escape that and have a voice of my own. It was cathartic, still is. Knowing there are so many other people out there that are just like me, it made me realize I wasn't a freak or abnormal, and it was okay to not want children.”
The creator of Childfree Humor said that there is “a fairly large stigma” when it comes to childlessness in our society. “People think you're immature, selfish, or stupid for choosing to be childfree; usually all three,” she told us.
Moreover, apart from the social stigma, pressure from family members to reconsider this choice makes it all the more difficult, the creator of Childfree Humor said. “It's usually finding similar-minded people who you can connect with that's the biggest challenge. I don't really know any childfree people in real life but thanks to the internet, there are communities and groups you can be part of that make you feel less lonely.”
Most of Childfree Humor's followers are women, the creator said, “which isn't surprising because I am a woman too and most of what I post is the humor that helps you cope with the expectations that society places on women.”
“What surprised me was that my audience was global. I have followers not just from North America but also from Asia, Africa, etc. It tells you that the women from all over the world, irrespective of the culture they are from, face the same kind of pressure and stigma that comes from choosing to not procreate,” the creator concluded.
That’s what I was told when when I was 22, a single mom of two kids I adored but never wanted more, when I asked the doctor to do a tubal. He said, “Oh now, you’re young you’ll change your mind.” I said, “I have never wanted more than two children. I.DO.NOT. WANT.ANY.MORE. My age has nothing to do with it!” Doctor: “But what if you meet a nice man & fall in love but he wants a child of his own?” Me-pissed, “What am I? A brood mare? I have to put up with the dangers of birth control because he doesn’t have a child & why would he want me to be the mother if the first two I popped out weren’t good enough for him?Besides, his not having a child sounds a whole lot like his problem, not mine.” He said I was taking it wrong. LOL. Bet your a*s I was. The worst comment I ever got though was an older women who said, “But what if something happened to one of your children, then you’d want another.” I was shocked. One goes, just replace it! SMH.
Many childfree people hear that one annoying question way more often than they should. “When are you having a baby?” is the kind of question many people would do anything not to hear ever again. Previously Bored Panda spoke with Susan Petang, a certified divorce coach and the creator of “The Quiet Zone Coaching,” who teaches people how to stop feeling overwhelmed and start waking up happy in the morning again.
Petang said that it can indeed be super annoying when others (family or not!) continually ask when you’re going to have kids, get married, or something else that they think you should be doing. Referring to these questions, Petang said that “no, it’s none of their business.”
Having kids for any other reason than you want to raise them is selfish. Having them because you think it would be fun. Or because your parents/other family/friends are pushing you to.
Aren't you being selfish not having children? No, I'm just not selfish enough to have them for the wrong reasons.
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Having children is selfish. There's not much you can do which would lessen your impact on the planet than choosing not to breed like a stupid animal, and forcing the rest of the world to deal with your screaming tantrum of a selfish decision.
That sounds a bit too harsh. Having children isn't a selfish decision as long as u can afford to take care of them. Neither is not having children. So we shouldn't say one or the other is selfish
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The Berserk manga in the day of the eclipse along with a sea of corpses
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There are babies waiting. That's why it's incredibly selfish to deliberately have kids while the existing ones are still waiting to be adopted.
Oh, so I'm selfish for not wanting to spend every penny on a child instead of having a paid-off house and nice cars? Okay then, selfish I am...
It's selfish to have children; the world is over populated, in turmoil. And many children need homes already. The world doesn't need your mini-me. Refraining from having children is not selfish at all, just sensible (imo of course)
For some ppl it just happens. I mean: they never really actively wanted kids, nor did they absolutely not want them, but then suddenly they had them, so they decided to raise them. Maybe it doesn't often go like that anymore these days, but not too long ago, yes, it happened.
Load More Replies... Since when do we have to defend our decision to live happily without children? Our bodies, our choice.
I agree, but sadly have to defend this decision on a frequent basis :(
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So, unrelated but with the way Gervais has that frowny smile (look at his upper lip in the above pic), anyone else think he looks kinda like David Bowie crossed with a big ol' daddy bear?? 🐻 ❤️
Exactly! My ex had called me selfish for not wanting kids! (He had two and didn't want any more)
Damn now everything is bad, I would love to have a kid "don't because they have not chosen to be born" okay then I will not have a kid "you have to because it's a beautiful thing and you won't know in the future". Honestly both sides seems toxic for me.
And then you're still stigmatized if you decide to adopt a kid that lost their parents, and they all act as if adoption was the selfish thing.
Humanity! Loved that one. (Just in case someone is curious about it, it's in Netflix)
His Humanity stand-up is something I can sugn under with my both hands :)
As long as you're talking about not getting pregnant in the first place.
Ah, but if you're a Mormon (and maybe others) you believe there ARE people waiting to be born.
If you're Mormon you're in a cult and have more important problems than the abstract concept of soul waiting for a body
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Not having children can be viewed as selfish… unless you know the full extent of how my two diagnoses have been affecting my life ever since my childhood brain cancer diagnosis in August 2013, and especially ever since I’ve been on an anti-seizure prescription (currently levetiracetam and lamotrigine) ever since my May 2020 epilepsy diagnosis.
Except for Mormons. They literally believe that there are random babies floating around that need and want to be born into a human baby body.
Sounds like demons searching for a host body.
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Don't forget the old "But what about your future husband?? Don't you dare about what HE will want??"
“Let me ask you this: Why are they asking in the first place? Is it because they know you want kids, and are concerned about your happiness? Is it because they’re just nosy? Is it because they don’t have the social skills to know that it’s an inappropriate question?”
Susan argues that “trying to understand WHY someone is doing something annoying doesn’t justify their behavior, but putting yourself in someone else’s shoes for a moment helps YOU be less annoyed.” She added: “you can even think to yourself, ‘Wow, it’s really sad that they don’t understand how annoying that question is.’”
So many people just want cute babies and they have no idea what to do once the child starts developing a personality... that's why the world is full of totally messed up people.
Honestly, we should just call it something else in order to loophole this whole situation. That's what conservatives do when they find a tax law they don't like. They find loopholes. So let's rename abortion procedures as 'evacuating undocumented immigrants' that way when someone needs to go in for this procedure, they can say they aren't getting an abortion. And then these prolife (in name only because they don't care about life at all, really) people will have to carry signs saying they're against evacuating undocumented immigrants which will make their heads explode.
However, we need to remember that other people are going to do what they are going to do. This applies to all kind of things people talk about, whether it’s asking you “when are you having a baby?” or a whole other unrelated thing.
“We have no control over their behavior. You’re right, your Nosy Aunt Rosie shouldn’t be asking you these questions – but she just did,” the life coach said. However, Petang argues that “our expectations of others aren’t going to change the weather on Jupiter, so don’t get all bristly when people ask stupid or nosy questions – we can’t control them, but we can control ourselves and our responses.”
On the other hand, some people feel like they’re pushed into a corner. So in those cases, you may have no choice but to shut the nosy people down. It doesn’t need to be aggressive at all. “Address the intention rather than the question. For example, the woman in the story could say to her brother, ‘That’s something I love about you – you’re so concerned about my happiness!’ (Note that she hasn’t answered the nosy question.)”
Petang added that another great response would be, “You seem like you really want us to have a baby!” Then let them explain their question. “You can also come right out and ask, ‘Why do you want to know?’”
My mum whispered to me when I was 14 "you don't have to have kids. It's one option in a life where you're the first generation to live many options. If you choose to have kids it's a lifelong option even if they die before you. If you choose not to have kids it's a lifelong choice that opens up so many options, the possibilities are limitless." She also added that if she had her life over, and born in my generation, GenX, she would not have had kids. I took her advice. We're still very close :)
Tattoos can be removed, or changed into something you like better. Kids, not so much.
Me too! There's so much fun in other aisles with more interesting products to buy than wearable toilet paper.
Y'all could afford babies, uh, no. Raising kids is insanely expensive. It's already expensive even before the kid is born with all prenatal care and buying all sorts of things for the baby. And that's just for the baby stuff. Let alone the cost of giving birth and postnatal care for the mom.
Note: this post originally had 69 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
I hate the argument "but you'll never have a family." A spouse is a family! A cat is a family!! You own dust bunnies are family. You can be a family without having to reproduce. Ridiculous.
need to get a bumper sticker that says "My cat is far more fulfilling than your child will ever be."
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Dad of one here, she’s 11, she’s awesome, wouldn’t change her for anything. I love being a Dad, I love my daughter. Now is that something I believe should be forced on anyone? Nope. Are there many ways to enjoy your life? Yep. Do all of those ways require you to procreate? Hell no. You do you, I’ll do me, we will get along just fine.
I'm so happy when people with kids talk about the joy they have, especially dad's. My parents had me "so my mom wouldn't be alone". Imagine coming out of the womb and having a job already. I am childless not because I want to sleep late or do what I want. Sometimes I wonder what if (I'm 54 and just lost my dad) because I believe children are a blessing and there is no more important job imo but I didn't think that it was a wise choice for me. I don't live a decadent life, no tattoos or travel. I volunteer and pour that love into other people. That's my legacy.
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I’m only 12 and when I was younger I wanted 10 kids. Then I realized that’s f*****g insane and I said I wanted 4 children. Now I’m considering the fact that I don’t have to have children. I just always thought I did because my mom would always say “I’m proud of you as long as you bring me grandchildren” and I saw other women having children right after they get married. I still love children and I still babysit but I just don’t think I want kids of my own. To raise and be responsible for. I have dreams to travel the world and stuff. And I just don’t want kids. I know I’m young and I’ll probably change my mind so nothing is confirmed.
It's good that you're keeping an open mind. You might change your mind, you might not, but whatever happens, only you can decide what feels right for you.
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Don't people get tired of all this BS? Want kids? Good for you! Don't want kids? Good for you! Good God, there are posts about "the joys of not having kids" every. single. week.
To be fair there are also a lot of articles about parenthood and kids on here. What rubs me the wrong way is the majority of childfree humour seems to be centered around how miserable people with kids must be, while parent humour is mostly about their own experiences , without throwing shade on childfree folk. It seems so toxic to me, just enjoy your own life and let other people do the same.
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When I was told by my doctor that I couldn't have children, it was like all my birthdays and christmases at once! :-D
Right? After my hysterectomy sometimes i forget that i am sterile and then randomly remember and get super happy :D
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I work at a school and my office is directly by the Grade 1 classrooms and playground (6/7 year olds). Listening to them is the best birth control - I could not handle a 6 year old. These kids stand outside - perfectly sunny summer afternoon - and sing “rain, rain, go away”. Whuuu?
I was in my early thirties and single, a new homeowner who wants to fix up her house and maybe do a little traveling. The last man I was even remotely interested in had been killed by cancer. A client at my home daycare says 'so when are you going to start having kids?' I just said erm...ah...not really in a rush, not interested.' She says "You might want to get a move on, we had ours so that we will still be young when the mothering ends at 18." I said...."Yah well, I'm 30, my parents are in their 70s and they just helped me through the house buying process and then spent two days helping me move in. So...mothering doesn't stop at 18." C says "What about when you're old? Who will take care of you? Who will visit you in the nursing home." I say "I've worked in hospice homes, those people rarely saw their families. Also - I have no intention of going to a nursing home ever, without a family there will be no one to make me." She still insists that eventually I'll be lonely.
So about once a month, on a Friday evening, I send her a photo of me and my very sad 'loneliness.' Enjoying the backyard pagoda I built with a glass of wine. Going down the street for a cocktail. Spending the whole Saturday in the quiet city library. She finally stopped asking.
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This is … very odd. I really respect individual choices and I’m completely sure that the “you’ll change your mind” brigade gets very , very boring. But I don’t understand why the rationale has to revolve around the idea that children ruin your life. We have young children and we still travel, continue our education and have lots of fun. Having children has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It isn’t going to be for everyone, and that’s truly fine of course, and those people should absolutely be empowered to take a different path. But pretending all parents are exhausted zombies who are regretful of their decision just isn’t true and I don’t know how helpful it is to young women especially who might still be asking themselves the question
I don't understand the portrayal of people who choose to be childless is because we don't like children. I believe that children are a blessing and being a parent is the most important job. But I have my own reasons that don't have anything to do with wanting to sleep late or be free from responsibility. It's a private decision, don't assume you know my reason.
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I'm 41 and still don't regret it. Kids aren't for everyone and not every woman has maternal instincts. We shouldn't have to.
Nobody says you have to. It's just natural to want to is all.
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I am 33, a cat lady (2 furry beasts), with tattoos and a desire for video games, wine, and free time to lounge around and do nothing. And in ten years I want the same, but maybe with more cats and more tattoos. No spouses and no kids for me. To each their own. But the moment anyone tries to shove their propaganda down my throat, the gloves come off.
Every time I see a pregnant woman pushing one or two other babies in a stroller, my immediate thought is "Do you not read the news? Have you no idea what type of world you're bringing them into?"
People will breed mindlessly until the end of days. They do not care about anything other but their own greed
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I don't regret for a second not having kids. Turned out I have chronic fatigue and chronic pain since age 27. A few years later, several autoimmune conditions showed up. Kids would have been torture.
I was at my dad's funeral and my uncle told me I have to have a son or our family name will die out. First, I'm 55. Second, I wanted to say, look around this room. You really think there should be more of these?
55 is older than average but you just gotta find yourself a 30 or 40 something woman worth having children with 😏
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I think to some, probably the majority, children are a blessing and I actually love children, but I can honestly say that rather than feeling blessed that I don't have them , I do feel blessed that I don't want them. Mainly because I don't think I would have made a great mother and I enjoy focussing on other aspirations. But this is a sensitive subject for some, for those that want children but cannot have them, I can only imagine the pain, I'm pretty sure it goes beyond anything I can relate it to, like being told by your landlord you cannot have a dog. F**k you Keith and your stupid rental agreement...I think I digress.
Both sides of this are pretty weird. Just live your life and don't pester people about stuff... Makes sense to me
"There are two types of people in the world. Those that want to be left alone, and those that just won't leave them alone..."
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Mmm, abortion jokes feel shouldn't been on the list, since it's kinda 50/50 terms of reasons to do so. Other than that, decisions on if to have a child or not.... I can wait a couple more years before deciding... maybe a little more... :3
Yeah, agreed. Not wanting kids is one thing. If you don't feel the need or drive to have children it's probably best you don't have any. You do you. But openly celebrating the death of children is just sick. And unironically these same people clutch pearls when school shootings happen. Why? "Well those kids were wanted so it's a tragedy!"
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as a 30f with autism ( i still live at home ) im glad ill never have kids. im technically 1 myself anyway ( due to having the mentally of a 14 yr old) id probably strave the kid, due to my 16 hr a day video game addiction. i don't have time for something that cant be fed and cleaned up after, in 15 min. (my cats are mostly low maintenance, and the oldest dosnt even play anymore. just food and lap time is good for her.)
I hear that often. Have yet to see one single woman ever treated like livestock. Have you ever even visited a real farm?
Load More Replies... I don’t want children. For the past 25 years I’ve been lying that I can’t… So casual strangers who question my decision stop pushing their opinion on me. I still get the «It will happen you’ll see» about 50% of the time. After telling them I never wanted them and can’t anyway. The most infuriating are the «What if your partner want kids?». Well, guess they won’t be my partner? Why am I defined as a female that should procreate. My doctor doesn’t even want my tubes tied. «What if you change your mind?». Love. It won’t happen. I’ve never been more sure of something in my life. Let me be.
Just in case someone needs to read this...I'll be 45 in a few months and at one time I wanted a child more than anything but trying and failing for over 10 years helped me realize that just isn't in the cards for me. I became very withdrawn and depressed until my husband got me a chihuahua...he helped me heal and find purpose. Now I rescue chihuahuas and responsibility breed my healthy dogs so I can share my joy with others who need them as well ;) sometimes in our darkest hours we find light in unexpected places!
How many kids do you have, and are they aware of how you feel about them? Lol
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The government needs to start realizing that women are people and not objects, I may not totally agree with what others say on abortion but I feel it's a woman's right to choose what she does with her body.
The government doesn't think men or women are people. You're the means to extort money and power. You're risking your very life on the delusion that your government cares about you...
Load More Replies... I think the majority of parents with children just want more people on the same team. Team misery because misery loves company.
There is really no need to rationalize your decisions. Just do you. People will talk. They will b***h and moan over things that have absolutely f*ck all to do with them. Best to just pay no heed.
I had two children. They're both dead (she at birth, her big brother in an accident when he was 31). No grands, and I don't mind that at all. I don't want any "replacements" for the two children I loved dearly, and at the age of 70 now, I most definitely don't want to be dealing with shrieking any agers at all. I have wonderful friends the same ages my son and my daughter would be, friends who have a very large number of children ranging in age from 21 down to 3. I see them once a week, and that's as much child interaction as I ever want in my life. I'm not responsible for any of them, though I'd protect fiercely if anyone tried to hurt them. I have no financial obligation toward any of them, and I most certainly don't have to worry about any of their futures. They're being raised by terrific parents, all of them becoming super people themselves. That's enough. I also don't have animals because I can't stand having them, but that's a whole different thing.
I'm dissapointed by this post. I came here to find funny stuff, but instead I found a lot pro-abortion bullsh*t
Oh come on, what's funnier than joking about killing babies?!
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Bruh, half of these aren't even childfree memes. It's an important topic, but damn, I came here to dunk on some kids, not debate the ethics of abortion 😮💨
I'm a dedicated loyal person, the marriage lasted way longer than it would have without my son. So now because it lasted 21 years I'm on the hook for way larger longer payments to my X, even with grown son out of the house. Payment for being responsible :/
Life isn't fair in the tit for tat way we think it should be. Arguably, though, life IS fair. You just have to find the right frame.
Load More Replies... I’m the oldest of 4. My youngest sister is 14 years younger than me and my parents are often not at home. If being a big sister and half raising my siblings has taught me anything, it’s that kids can be a blessing and a nightmare. I have no particularly strong desire one way or another. If my partner wants a kid or two, cool, we’ll have 2 max (non negotiable), if they don’t want any, that’s also cool, we can have a cat and a dog and spend our weekends watching TV and drinking wine. What I fail to comprehend is why some people want to force you to have kids. Or why some people want “kids of their own” like dude… you can have just as meaningful of a relationship with a kid that isn’t yours as with one that is. What’s important is that you try. When you meet someone with kids and then you want “one of your own” you basically say their kids aren’t good enough, you do t love them. Not the same way anyway. It’s kind of selfish and makes the kids feel like they aren’t good enough
If I ever have any kids, it's going to be through adoption. I have a few genes that future generations would be better off having less of. Asthma in a biological parent, for example, can make the child more likely to have it. Wouldn't wish that upon any child. Crooked toes, can be infuriating to run with because eventually they'll be rubbed raw and I happened to inherit that gene. Wouldn't want that for a child. Crooked teeth are thought to be genetic although they are a mild inconvenience at worst. Still impacts looks. Wouldn't want that for a child. I inherited ADHD from two family members who have it bad. That's probably going to pass to a kid through my genes if I become a biological father. That's just the genetic side of why I'm not having my own child.
Would you care to provide reasons? One can hardly make an intelligent claim without providing reasons.
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I have never wanted children. As a man, I get less grief about it, but less is not none. After years of unwanted, "helpful" advice, here's my advice: don't engage. Walk away. They will not ever understand. They don't even want to. They want kids, so you must. They need to change your mind to validate their own decision. Accept that they will do this, and let it go. Otherwise, you get upset and the turkeys win. Don't let the turkeys win. :)
My concern here is what I call the idiocracy argument. Those of you familiar with that movie. I am convinced taht the dumb people are the ones who breed and the smart people are the ones who avoid it, with the result that we're breeding a stupider human race.
If it were higher numbers, that would be a valid concern, unless you include the numbers for less intelligent folks having more children. Even so, you and I will be long dead before it becomes a serious problem. I have a neice who's more intelligent than both of her parents put together, so it is not a trait that breeds true every time.
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I have three kids.. Yep, they make a lot of mess.. Kick me a lot time for fun (which I encourage them to do, of course..) But they make me smile in a lot more times. Hear me friends, it is okay if you don't want it now... You can postpone it for a year or maybe a decade.. No problem.. Just don't hate all kids or bashing all parents like they are dumb for not enjoying freedom like yourself. Life is a present.. Your problem is also a present which you can enjoy somehow.. Ability to ride the storm is in many way great and enjoyable..
Typical parent propaganda "but you'll waaaant theeeem eventually, hurr durr". Please get over yourself. You'd be pissed if people asked you why you had kids, so why the h e l l do you think you're entitled to speak that way to grown a** adults
Load More Replies... My mother has four daughters, no son's, and I'm a lesbian, but my three sisters are bi, and my mom said "I know (dead name) isn't going to give me grandchildren, so one you better do it." She said this completely serious, and my older sister goes, "but I don't want children", my younger sister didn't say anything, and my youngest sister said "why would I want to put a child in this world? We are about to crash and burn." But oh you know, as long as you get grandchildren.
They can be happy with a cat. No child owes their parent anything of this sort.
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I’ve NEVER been part of a conversation where people ask these questions. This is getting so played out. My friends constantly badger me about buying a new truck cause mine is 20 years old. Should I write a giant post about it? No, because I don’t give a s**t.
Of course. "Me as a man have never suffer the harassment that women do suffer ergo it does not exist". I had severe medical problems and was 30 and three doctors still denied a hysterectomy "because you will want kids". The thrid convinced me to have another surgery but refused to sterilise me; he just omited the relevant detail that said surgery made pregnancy really dangerous for me. Because for our society its better to have a dead woman than an infertile one. Omly this year i finally got the hysterectomy i needed. Do not ever say that this things dont happen and dont you dare to compare them to buying a car.
Load More Replies... I've never not celebrated someone telling me they want to be child free. Mostly because they're all pretentious tw@ts and one of them was more than enough.
Why is it not possible to just not have kids without insulting everyone? Why have derogatory names for parents and children? Just do your thing.
What a typical parent thing to say. You have obviously ZERO idea of the insults and derogatory language child free people deal with on a daily basis just because they don't want to be miserable like certain parents. If this article isn't for you, feel free to scroll on
Load More Replies... I don't feel comfortable making out that kids are the bad thing. Have kids or don't. No need for all the drama and resentment.
LOL! The resentment comes from the fact that nearly everyone believes they have every right to tell folks who don't want children that they are wrong, selfish,etc. Complete strangers have spent considerable time trying to convince me that I really want children. It's even worse for women. How would you react if folks were constantly telling you that you were wrong to have children, and continued long after you told them to mind their own business?
Load More Replies... I just love all these people who love declaring their hatred for people wanting them to have children without realizing these people had children and their lives are better because of it. It's like getting pissed off when someone tells you about the best ice cream shop in town and you get mad at them "who said I wanted ice cream?!" Even more ironic when it's their own parents encouraging them. They don't regret having you, look at the bright side! You actually brought them more purpose and love than anything in the world. But "no, I'd rather watch Netflix alone all day instead!" And then most of you lie to yourselves when you're dying alone in 40 years, holding back the tears even though no one is there to see it.
You know what i do then BP posts weekly pro parenting posts? Just not read them. I suggest you do the same.
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Don't want kids? Ok, that's your choice and you're welcome to it. I do have one pet peeve though. As some who has both kids and a dog. Your dog and/or cat is nowhere near the same thing as having a kid. It's not even close and it's a moronic comparison to make. Please, for the love of god, just stop.
That's funny--somebody raised you, aren't you lucky, now it's your turn. Well, I don't owe my folks anything. They never asked if I wanted to be born, and if they had, I would have said no thanks. And there's a big difference between liking kids and wanting your own. Every person I've ever met is screwed up, and they were all screwed up by their parents. It's a job nobody has ever done well. And there isn't a single good reason to have kids. Almost no parent ever realizes that the job is to build a functional, not-too-damaged adult, so we end up with almost none of those.
Load More Replies... I bet you bend over backwards coming up with that logic, but it's still flawed and irrelevant
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Sure because childfree people cannot have any worthy acomplishment. Only being a mother or father is worthy...
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If you truly wanted children you would fight for adoption. Not try to force others to have children.
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I hate the argument "but you'll never have a family." A spouse is a family! A cat is a family!! You own dust bunnies are family. You can be a family without having to reproduce. Ridiculous.
need to get a bumper sticker that says "My cat is far more fulfilling than your child will ever be."
Load More Replies... Dad of one here, she’s 11, she’s awesome, wouldn’t change her for anything. I love being a Dad, I love my daughter. Now is that something I believe should be forced on anyone? Nope. Are there many ways to enjoy your life? Yep. Do all of those ways require you to procreate? Hell no. You do you, I’ll do me, we will get along just fine.
I'm so happy when people with kids talk about the joy they have, especially dad's. My parents had me "so my mom wouldn't be alone". Imagine coming out of the womb and having a job already. I am childless not because I want to sleep late or do what I want. Sometimes I wonder what if (I'm 54 and just lost my dad) because I believe children are a blessing and there is no more important job imo but I didn't think that it was a wise choice for me. I don't live a decadent life, no tattoos or travel. I volunteer and pour that love into other people. That's my legacy.
Load More Replies... I’m only 12 and when I was younger I wanted 10 kids. Then I realized that’s f*****g insane and I said I wanted 4 children. Now I’m considering the fact that I don’t have to have children. I just always thought I did because my mom would always say “I’m proud of you as long as you bring me grandchildren” and I saw other women having children right after they get married. I still love children and I still babysit but I just don’t think I want kids of my own. To raise and be responsible for. I have dreams to travel the world and stuff. And I just don’t want kids. I know I’m young and I’ll probably change my mind so nothing is confirmed.
It's good that you're keeping an open mind. You might change your mind, you might not, but whatever happens, only you can decide what feels right for you.
Load More Replies... Don't people get tired of all this BS? Want kids? Good for you! Don't want kids? Good for you! Good God, there are posts about "the joys of not having kids" every. single. week.
To be fair there are also a lot of articles about parenthood and kids on here. What rubs me the wrong way is the majority of childfree humour seems to be centered around how miserable people with kids must be, while parent humour is mostly about their own experiences , without throwing shade on childfree folk. It seems so toxic to me, just enjoy your own life and let other people do the same.
Load More Replies... When I was told by my doctor that I couldn't have children, it was like all my birthdays and christmases at once! :-D
Right? After my hysterectomy sometimes i forget that i am sterile and then randomly remember and get super happy :D
Load More Replies... I work at a school and my office is directly by the Grade 1 classrooms and playground (6/7 year olds). Listening to them is the best birth control - I could not handle a 6 year old. These kids stand outside - perfectly sunny summer afternoon - and sing “rain, rain, go away”. Whuuu?
I was in my early thirties and single, a new homeowner who wants to fix up her house and maybe do a little traveling. The last man I was even remotely interested in had been killed by cancer. A client at my home daycare says 'so when are you going to start having kids?' I just said erm...ah...not really in a rush, not interested.' She says "You might want to get a move on, we had ours so that we will still be young when the mothering ends at 18." I said...."Yah well, I'm 30, my parents are in their 70s and they just helped me through the house buying process and then spent two days helping me move in. So...mothering doesn't stop at 18." C says "What about when you're old? Who will take care of you? Who will visit you in the nursing home." I say "I've worked in hospice homes, those people rarely saw their families. Also - I have no intention of going to a nursing home ever, without a family there will be no one to make me." She still insists that eventually I'll be lonely.
So about once a month, on a Friday evening, I send her a photo of me and my very sad 'loneliness.' Enjoying the backyard pagoda I built with a glass of wine. Going down the street for a cocktail. Spending the whole Saturday in the quiet city library. She finally stopped asking.
Load More Replies... This is … very odd. I really respect individual choices and I’m completely sure that the “you’ll change your mind” brigade gets very , very boring. But I don’t understand why the rationale has to revolve around the idea that children ruin your life. We have young children and we still travel, continue our education and have lots of fun. Having children has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It isn’t going to be for everyone, and that’s truly fine of course, and those people should absolutely be empowered to take a different path. But pretending all parents are exhausted zombies who are regretful of their decision just isn’t true and I don’t know how helpful it is to young women especially who might still be asking themselves the question
I don't understand the portrayal of people who choose to be childless is because we don't like children. I believe that children are a blessing and being a parent is the most important job. But I have my own reasons that don't have anything to do with wanting to sleep late or be free from responsibility. It's a private decision, don't assume you know my reason.
Load More Replies... I'm 41 and still don't regret it. Kids aren't for everyone and not every woman has maternal instincts. We shouldn't have to.
Nobody says you have to. It's just natural to want to is all.
Load More Replies... I am 33, a cat lady (2 furry beasts), with tattoos and a desire for video games, wine, and free time to lounge around and do nothing. And in ten years I want the same, but maybe with more cats and more tattoos. No spouses and no kids for me. To each their own. But the moment anyone tries to shove their propaganda down my throat, the gloves come off.
Every time I see a pregnant woman pushing one or two other babies in a stroller, my immediate thought is "Do you not read the news? Have you no idea what type of world you're bringing them into?"
People will breed mindlessly until the end of days. They do not care about anything other but their own greed
Load More Replies... I don't regret for a second not having kids. Turned out I have chronic fatigue and chronic pain since age 27. A few years later, several autoimmune conditions showed up. Kids would have been torture.
I was at my dad's funeral and my uncle told me I have to have a son or our family name will die out. First, I'm 55. Second, I wanted to say, look around this room. You really think there should be more of these?
55 is older than average but you just gotta find yourself a 30 or 40 something woman worth having children with 😏
Load More Replies... I think to some, probably the majority, children are a blessing and I actually love children, but I can honestly say that rather than feeling blessed that I don't have them , I do feel blessed that I don't want them. Mainly because I don't think I would have made a great mother and I enjoy focussing on other aspirations. But this is a sensitive subject for some, for those that want children but cannot have them, I can only imagine the pain, I'm pretty sure it goes beyond anything I can relate it to, like being told by your landlord you cannot have a dog. F**k you Keith and your stupid rental agreement...I think I digress.
Both sides of this are pretty weird. Just live your life and don't pester people about stuff... Makes sense to me
"There are two types of people in the world. Those that want to be left alone, and those that just won't leave them alone..."
Load More Replies... Mmm, abortion jokes feel shouldn't been on the list, since it's kinda 50/50 terms of reasons to do so. Other than that, decisions on if to have a child or not.... I can wait a couple more years before deciding... maybe a little more... :3
Yeah, agreed. Not wanting kids is one thing. If you don't feel the need or drive to have children it's probably best you don't have any. You do you. But openly celebrating the death of children is just sick. And unironically these same people clutch pearls when school shootings happen. Why? "Well those kids were wanted so it's a tragedy!"
Load More Replies... as a 30f with autism ( i still live at home ) im glad ill never have kids. im technically 1 myself anyway ( due to having the mentally of a 14 yr old) id probably strave the kid, due to my 16 hr a day video game addiction. i don't have time for something that cant be fed and cleaned up after, in 15 min. (my cats are mostly low maintenance, and the oldest dosnt even play anymore. just food and lap time is good for her.)
I hear that often. Have yet to see one single woman ever treated like livestock. Have you ever even visited a real farm?
Load More Replies... I don’t want children. For the past 25 years I’ve been lying that I can’t… So casual strangers who question my decision stop pushing their opinion on me. I still get the «It will happen you’ll see» about 50% of the time. After telling them I never wanted them and can’t anyway. The most infuriating are the «What if your partner want kids?». Well, guess they won’t be my partner? Why am I defined as a female that should procreate. My doctor doesn’t even want my tubes tied. «What if you change your mind?». Love. It won’t happen. I’ve never been more sure of something in my life. Let me be.
Just in case someone needs to read this...I'll be 45 in a few months and at one time I wanted a child more than anything but trying and failing for over 10 years helped me realize that just isn't in the cards for me. I became very withdrawn and depressed until my husband got me a chihuahua...he helped me heal and find purpose. Now I rescue chihuahuas and responsibility breed my healthy dogs so I can share my joy with others who need them as well ;) sometimes in our darkest hours we find light in unexpected places!
How many kids do you have, and are they aware of how you feel about them? Lol
Load More Replies... The government needs to start realizing that women are people and not objects, I may not totally agree with what others say on abortion but I feel it's a woman's right to choose what she does with her body.
The government doesn't think men or women are people. You're the means to extort money and power. You're risking your very life on the delusion that your government cares about you...
Load More Replies... I think the majority of parents with children just want more people on the same team. Team misery because misery loves company.
There is really no need to rationalize your decisions. Just do you. People will talk. They will b***h and moan over things that have absolutely f*ck all to do with them. Best to just pay no heed.
I had two children. They're both dead (she at birth, her big brother in an accident when he was 31). No grands, and I don't mind that at all. I don't want any "replacements" for the two children I loved dearly, and at the age of 70 now, I most definitely don't want to be dealing with shrieking any agers at all. I have wonderful friends the same ages my son and my daughter would be, friends who have a very large number of children ranging in age from 21 down to 3. I see them once a week, and that's as much child interaction as I ever want in my life. I'm not responsible for any of them, though I'd protect fiercely if anyone tried to hurt them. I have no financial obligation toward any of them, and I most certainly don't have to worry about any of their futures. They're being raised by terrific parents, all of them becoming super people themselves. That's enough. I also don't have animals because I can't stand having them, but that's a whole different thing.
I'm dissapointed by this post. I came here to find funny stuff, but instead I found a lot pro-abortion bullsh*t
Oh come on, what's funnier than joking about killing babies?!
Load More Replies... Bruh, half of these aren't even childfree memes. It's an important topic, but damn, I came here to dunk on some kids, not debate the ethics of abortion 😮💨
I'm a dedicated loyal person, the marriage lasted way longer than it would have without my son. So now because it lasted 21 years I'm on the hook for way larger longer payments to my X, even with grown son out of the house. Payment for being responsible :/
Life isn't fair in the tit for tat way we think it should be. Arguably, though, life IS fair. You just have to find the right frame.
Load More Replies... I’m the oldest of 4. My youngest sister is 14 years younger than me and my parents are often not at home. If being a big sister and half raising my siblings has taught me anything, it’s that kids can be a blessing and a nightmare. I have no particularly strong desire one way or another. If my partner wants a kid or two, cool, we’ll have 2 max (non negotiable), if they don’t want any, that’s also cool, we can have a cat and a dog and spend our weekends watching TV and drinking wine. What I fail to comprehend is why some people want to force you to have kids. Or why some people want “kids of their own” like dude… you can have just as meaningful of a relationship with a kid that isn’t yours as with one that is. What’s important is that you try. When you meet someone with kids and then you want “one of your own” you basically say their kids aren’t good enough, you do t love them. Not the same way anyway. It’s kind of selfish and makes the kids feel like they aren’t good enough
If I ever have any kids, it's going to be through adoption. I have a few genes that future generations would be better off having less of. Asthma in a biological parent, for example, can make the child more likely to have it. Wouldn't wish that upon any child. Crooked toes, can be infuriating to run with because eventually they'll be rubbed raw and I happened to inherit that gene. Wouldn't want that for a child. Crooked teeth are thought to be genetic although they are a mild inconvenience at worst. Still impacts looks. Wouldn't want that for a child. I inherited ADHD from two family members who have it bad. That's probably going to pass to a kid through my genes if I become a biological father. That's just the genetic side of why I'm not having my own child.
Would you care to provide reasons? One can hardly make an intelligent claim without providing reasons.
Load More Replies... I have never wanted children. As a man, I get less grief about it, but less is not none. After years of unwanted, "helpful" advice, here's my advice: don't engage. Walk away. They will not ever understand. They don't even want to. They want kids, so you must. They need to change your mind to validate their own decision. Accept that they will do this, and let it go. Otherwise, you get upset and the turkeys win. Don't let the turkeys win. :)
My concern here is what I call the idiocracy argument. Those of you familiar with that movie. I am convinced taht the dumb people are the ones who breed and the smart people are the ones who avoid it, with the result that we're breeding a stupider human race.
If it were higher numbers, that would be a valid concern, unless you include the numbers for less intelligent folks having more children. Even so, you and I will be long dead before it becomes a serious problem. I have a neice who's more intelligent than both of her parents put together, so it is not a trait that breeds true every time.
Load More Replies... I have three kids.. Yep, they make a lot of mess.. Kick me a lot time for fun (which I encourage them to do, of course..) But they make me smile in a lot more times. Hear me friends, it is okay if you don't want it now... You can postpone it for a year or maybe a decade.. No problem.. Just don't hate all kids or bashing all parents like they are dumb for not enjoying freedom like yourself. Life is a present.. Your problem is also a present which you can enjoy somehow.. Ability to ride the storm is in many way great and enjoyable..
Typical parent propaganda "but you'll waaaant theeeem eventually, hurr durr". Please get over yourself. You'd be pissed if people asked you why you had kids, so why the h e l l do you think you're entitled to speak that way to grown a** adults
Load More Replies... My mother has four daughters, no son's, and I'm a lesbian, but my three sisters are bi, and my mom said "I know (dead name) isn't going to give me grandchildren, so one you better do it." She said this completely serious, and my older sister goes, "but I don't want children", my younger sister didn't say anything, and my youngest sister said "why would I want to put a child in this world? We are about to crash and burn." But oh you know, as long as you get grandchildren.
They can be happy with a cat. No child owes their parent anything of this sort.
Load More Replies... I’ve NEVER been part of a conversation where people ask these questions. This is getting so played out. My friends constantly badger me about buying a new truck cause mine is 20 years old. Should I write a giant post about it? No, because I don’t give a s**t.
Of course. "Me as a man have never suffer the harassment that women do suffer ergo it does not exist". I had severe medical problems and was 30 and three doctors still denied a hysterectomy "because you will want kids". The thrid convinced me to have another surgery but refused to sterilise me; he just omited the relevant detail that said surgery made pregnancy really dangerous for me. Because for our society its better to have a dead woman than an infertile one. Omly this year i finally got the hysterectomy i needed. Do not ever say that this things dont happen and dont you dare to compare them to buying a car.
Load More Replies... I've never not celebrated someone telling me they want to be child free. Mostly because they're all pretentious tw@ts and one of them was more than enough.
Why is it not possible to just not have kids without insulting everyone? Why have derogatory names for parents and children? Just do your thing.
What a typical parent thing to say. You have obviously ZERO idea of the insults and derogatory language child free people deal with on a daily basis just because they don't want to be miserable like certain parents. If this article isn't for you, feel free to scroll on
Load More Replies... I don't feel comfortable making out that kids are the bad thing. Have kids or don't. No need for all the drama and resentment.
LOL! The resentment comes from the fact that nearly everyone believes they have every right to tell folks who don't want children that they are wrong, selfish,etc. Complete strangers have spent considerable time trying to convince me that I really want children. It's even worse for women. How would you react if folks were constantly telling you that you were wrong to have children, and continued long after you told them to mind their own business?
Load More Replies... I just love all these people who love declaring their hatred for people wanting them to have children without realizing these people had children and their lives are better because of it. It's like getting pissed off when someone tells you about the best ice cream shop in town and you get mad at them "who said I wanted ice cream?!" Even more ironic when it's their own parents encouraging them. They don't regret having you, look at the bright side! You actually brought them more purpose and love than anything in the world. But "no, I'd rather watch Netflix alone all day instead!" And then most of you lie to yourselves when you're dying alone in 40 years, holding back the tears even though no one is there to see it.
You know what i do then BP posts weekly pro parenting posts? Just not read them. I suggest you do the same.
Load More Replies... Don't want kids? Ok, that's your choice and you're welcome to it. I do have one pet peeve though. As some who has both kids and a dog. Your dog and/or cat is nowhere near the same thing as having a kid. It's not even close and it's a moronic comparison to make. Please, for the love of god, just stop.
That's funny--somebody raised you, aren't you lucky, now it's your turn. Well, I don't owe my folks anything. They never asked if I wanted to be born, and if they had, I would have said no thanks. And there's a big difference between liking kids and wanting your own. Every person I've ever met is screwed up, and they were all screwed up by their parents. It's a job nobody has ever done well. And there isn't a single good reason to have kids. Almost no parent ever realizes that the job is to build a functional, not-too-damaged adult, so we end up with almost none of those.
Load More Replies... I bet you bend over backwards coming up with that logic, but it's still flawed and irrelevant
Load More Replies... Sure because childfree people cannot have any worthy acomplishment. Only being a mother or father is worthy...
Load More Replies... If you truly wanted children you would fight for adoption. Not try to force others to have children.
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