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40 Memes About Being Childless In Response To People Not Accepting That This Is A Free Choice
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The romantic notion of owning a white picket fence house and raising several rambunctious rosy-cheeked kids is something that intuitively appeals to me. However, far from everybody has the same dreams that I do — and to each their own.
There are more and more people out there who reject the standard family narrative and firmly believe that not having kids is the way to go. When faced with criticism or disdain, they reply not with anger or excuses but with funny memes. And who here doesn’t like a good meme or two?
Bored Panda has hand-picked the very best memes made by people who don’t want to have kids, all for your entertainment. Whatever side of the (white picket) fence you’re on, regarding the topic of having children, I hope that you’ll enjoy the jokes. So scroll down, upvote your favorite memes, and tell us in the comments which ones made you laugh the loudest. When you’re all done with this article, why not have a glance at Bored Panda’s other hilarious list about people who prefer pets over kids, as well as our post about older people and whether or not they regret not having had kids.
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The memes mostly center around the idea that those people whose life choices includes no kids, because they enjoy having more freedom and money. They also poke fun of the fact that society keeps pressuring them to have children who are a huge responsibility to take care of and expensive to raise.
The New York Times determined the reasons why more people are opting out of having more kids. The 2018 survey conducted by Morning Consult shows that the number one reason why people are having fewer children than their ideal number is money. Or rather, a lack of money. 64% of respondents said that childcare is too expensive. 54% also mentioned wanting to spend more time with the kids they already have; 49% were worried about the economy; and 44% can’t afford more children.
One of my back-up career plans is opening a bakery. 100% would spend a few dozens of dollars to have this sign ordered in a personified, metal, "Nostalgic Art" style version. I would then nail it to the front door. No, even better. I'd have a sign reading: "Dear parents, you are responsible for your children's and your dogs' behaviour, as well as your own. If you disrupt the pleasant quiet atmosphere in any way, you'd be kindly asked to leave. The Staff."
Meanwhile, it’s a fact that birth and fertility rates in the world are plummeting. Our World in Data has revealed the shocking fact that the global fertility rate has halved in the last half-a-century: up until 1965, on average, every woman in the world had more than 5 children; now the average woman has fewer than 2.5 kids.
According to the BBC, lower fertility rates are found in “more economically developed countries”, such as the United States, Australia, South Korea and most countries in Europe. The World Population Review has found that in 2019 the highest fertility rates are in Niger (an average of 6.95 children per woman) and Somalia (6.12 kids); the lowest rates are in South Korea (1.11 kids) and Taiwan (1.15 kids).
Well, the cat ain't gonna walk itself... but it WILL try to get out of that pram if it gets stressed. Watch out.
Whether you already have kids, want to have children or aren’t planning on having any, what’s important is being happy with your decision and living life with no regrets. And what helps you keep a smile on your face? That’s right. Memes! And lots of them.
I think parenthood should be better controlled. Why is it not illegal to have 8 10 12 kids? The earth has 19 births for every 8 deaths. We're so overpopulated were gonna breed out of existence.
How I feel when asked to look at photos... or gender reveal parties! Please - only the parents really care. The rest of us just like a party.
Cat: *regrets life choices* Also isn't that a lot of kittens for one cat? (EDIT: Yep. I stuffed up there. You guys were right!)
"hooman, why are you acting like that?" lol, the dog's face looks horrified
Read 'Childfree and Loving It' by Nicki Defago. There are many parents who regret it but say nothing. She let people contact her anonymously with their stories as people are often too ashamed to admit that they wish they had never had children.
sometimes I go through the baby isle to feel smug over all the shit I don't have to buy
If you want people to respect your choice, you have to respect other people’s choice.
Note: this post originally had 67 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
Whether you have no kids, one kid or 5 kids etc. It is no one else’s business. It does not mean that someone’s life is more fulfilling as the other, it just means their lives are different and fulfilling in different ways.
And the weird part is that it's literally impossible to know what it's like any other way so you may as well enjoy the choices you've made.
Well... You probably have friends or relatives with which you are close enough to get a real feeling of how their lives are having "chosen" one option or the other
It's not impossible. If you don't have kids, but want to know what it's like, then foster some kids or invite someone with kids to stay with you for a few weeks. If you have kids, and you want to know what it's like to not have them, then send them to summer camp, boarding school, grandparent's house, etc. and chill in the house alone for a bit. I actually had a single dad and his three kids staying in my house for a while. That solidified my choice not to reproduce. I loved his kids and he kept telling me how awesome I was with them and that I should have some of my own. I was like, "Shut up, dude. It's my choice."
Found the haters I guess
YES THANK YOU. I think both side get entirely too mean and judgy thinking they have it "better" than the other, when in reality its just difference lifestyle choices and there's nothing inherently wrong with either path.
i think the point is that nobody gets the question 'why do you have kids?' but i (many women) get the question 'why didn't i have kids?' all the time
Well said!
Yes, exactly. Why all of the parent hate? I saw this with marriage, too. They're both good. Stay single and live it up, that's awesome! But don't turn around and bitch about how all of your friends are getting married. Rude.
Well, the reason why people bitch about their friends getting married is usually rooted in fear of losing them (the friends). Which is usually what does happen: marriage is often followed by moving or having kids and over all having less time to hang with the old crew. It's no fun being single and ready to party and none of your friends want to go because they have families now. It happens.
Adrijana Radosevic what
Adrijana Radosevic -
Adrijana Radosevic +
Adrijana Radosevic -
Why would we bitch about someone else getting married?
Except people with kids like to never shut the fuck up about you'll change your mind blahblahblah
I'm sorry your parents didn't brag about you
This is definitely the best response to this entire post
I was refering to the main comment? Why was I down voted?
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and then in walks scientist who tells you child-free women live longer and healthier lives ;)
yes, a male scientist most likely
I genuinely don't understand this seemingly reflexive need to justify one's decisions by mocking the decisions of others. I always knee that I wanted to be a wife and mother, because I come from a big, happy family and had a wonderful mother who set a beautiful example for me. I also wanted to be a pirate and psychologist. While the wife part turned out to be a disaster - more due to my awful partner choosing abilities than anything else - I am a happy, proud mother of two boys, both of whom were planned, with a degree in forensic psychology and a thriving fencing instruction business. I am happy with my choices and their results. That being said, I constantly get asked "are you going to try for a girl?" Despite having lost my daughter at birth and being almost 40. If you have made a choice that enhances your life and makes you happy, screw the expectations of others! Ignore shitty attitudes and try as much as possible to not absorb their snarkiness into yourself. Using the crappiness of others to reationalize being crappy yourself is awful and ridiculous. For what it is worth, I celebrate all of you - so many I differ with philosophically but still look forward to reading your comments! Be happy, Pandas!
I couldn't agree more, I can't stand the smarmy snark from childless people anymore than I can stand the "you'll regret it" mentality from some parents. Why can't we all just appreciate that we each have different paths and that either is just as valid as the other? I'm 37 and childless and apparently I'm lucky in the sense that I've not had ONE SINGLE PERSON question me when I tell them I don't have kids. I've gotten zero pressure from anyone about not having kids (ok, maybe a bit from my mom but she's grandbaby crazy lol). My sister has 6, three natural, three adopted and I'm incredibly proud of all the work her and her husband put into their family, but I'm happy t just being an aunt :)
I cut off contact with my parents because every time we got together it was one long lecture about when are we having kids (My wife and I). Finally after 3 years they sent me a letter saying they would never bring up the subject again, so we are talking now. Kids? No way...
See, I always knew that I did not ever want to be a wife and / or mother, even though I come from a big mostly happy is family, and had a wonderful mother who set a beautiful example for me.
Same here. Actually, I'd be fine with wife or single lady, but not with being a mother.
it's just a joke. I think you're on the wrong page!
Cindy Aguiar good
Sorry, I’m laughing so hard at Pirate and Psychologist... I had a mental image of a pirate on a bed with a psychologist sitting beside them... 😂 OK BUT SERIOUSLY that’s a good point.
Wonderful! I'd like to be able to upvote you 1000 times.
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*knew, not knee, lol.
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Um, you don't understand why people need to justify their decisions by mocking yet you describe yourself as perceptive and have a forensic psychology degree? There are many reasons, chief of which is being constantly questioned and/or criticised by family and people around you. It gets very tiring and letting off steam in mocking, joking memes comes as light relief.
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boooooooooooooooo
Jason Morin follower
Jason Morin what
I'm more and more under the impression that very few parents really actively made the decision to have kids after thinking it through thoroughly. Most parents... (1) get pregnant by accident and feel obliged to follow through. (2) just do what most people do without considering making life choices of their own. (3) bow to their spouse. (4) see kids as kind of a status symbol, something you have to have in order to live a "proper life".
I agree, I got engaged years ago because that seemed to be the next step for us, but I was just going along with what everyone else was doing. the deal breaker was that he wanted kids and I didnt, so we ended it there. He is happy with a family now and I live in england with a wonderful husband and we are child free, happy days ..xx
I really really agree with you, Arno.
Same here. And when they have got their first kid, then they feel that "now they must build a family so let's get some more kids". I don't get why some people feel like they must. I don't know if they are in therapy together and the therapist tell them that their relationship will get better if they get one more kid.. I have seen it soo many times. A tired couple, rarely speaking to each other, gets another kid. Then after some months, they divorce. Some people don't think.. And also, why don't they use protection if they haven't planned it?
We had our kids on purpose. Expecting number four now. Our marriage is great (and no...we didn't do it for that reason...but because we enjoy having a family so much, and we wanted a large family from the start). Took us a few years for the first one, to the point that we were terrified we would never have any. Fell into a deep depression. Insurance only covered diagnosis, which was inconclusive. Treatment is not cheap. It's about $12,000 PER ATTEMPT, and that doesn't include the $3,000 for the medications. We had to have them naturally, or it wasn't going to happen (and no, adoption isn't free either, and yes it we wanted to try that too) Not sure what happened, but after the first pregnancy happened (at a point when I was loosing hope...four years trying age 21-26) we had them back to back. We are so thankful, because it would have taken a few years of saving up in order to afford treatment just to have one. People do it on purpose, and are heartbroken when it doesn't work.