Do you dislike children? Yes, sort-of; it's more that I dislike immature people, a category which many children (and adults) fall into.
Why did you opt out of parenthood? I don't have the patience, money, or good health to be a parent. There are too many people on this planet already. The culture that I've encountered in the US of motherhood/expectation that strangers adore your brats is atrocious.
Do you think your childhood experiences and/or your parents actions influenced your decision? No, my parents and grandparents were and always have been children-focused, supportive, etc. My mother babysat for a handful of toddlers when I was growing up, which is when I started to discover I just could not relate to them. My sister who had the same experiences does want children.
What is the most common reaction/comment you get when people find out you’re Child-Free? That I'll change my mind and find the right man. Literally people I've known for less than 30 seconds (specifically doctors/nurses where this info is relevant) tell me this, making assumptions about my sexuality, relationship status, and thinking they know my own mind better than I do with a single statement.
Do you have any Child-free friends or relatives? Of my 6 aunts and uncles, only 1 has kids, the others mostly clear they didn't want kids for ages. Even though I "knew" this growing up, it didn't occur to me until I was nearly 18 that I could actually make that choice for myself (and it was because I encountered a CF comm on LJ). It was such a relief when that realization hit!
How do you feel/react when your loved ones announce they’re expecting? Mostly disappointed unless I was expecting it, but either way I plaster on a happy face. It's not that I'm not happy for them, knowing they want kids, it's just that I cannot relate at all to the desire, and I know from experience it's going to cause a distancing in our relationship.
Are you worried you might one day regret your decision? Nope.
(For women) Don’t you want to experience being pregnant? Hell no. My body would not be able to handle it.
Is your current partner Childfree as well? Yes.
Is it possible to be in a happy, fulfilling relationship without children? 100%
Define parenthood in one word Responsibility
Do you think you would be a good parent? Why/Why Not? Maybe, because I'm a perfectionist and would do all the research, although there's no easy answers often to being a parent and that ambiguity would be bad for me. And there's no guarantee all the "right" things would lead to a well-functioning child. And I would completely stress 24/7 and lose who I am in the process, so no thank you.
Do you have pets? Do you think you transfer the nurturing and love intended for a child unto your pet(s)? Yes; no. I dote on my cat and treat her like the princess she is, but it is a very different relationship from parenting.
Which label do you prefer? Child-Free or Childless? Child-free. Less for me implies I'm lacking something I want, which I'm not.
Do you actively encourage the people around you to think about their reproductive CHOICES? If anything I just try to correct/point out wording people use if they're ignoring the possibility of other valid choices in general conversation.
Are you worried about who will take care of you when you’re old? No.
What is the best part about being Child-Free? Having peace of mind, being able to disconnect from everything and have significant time to myself, not having to deal with the 24/7 logistics of care and upbringing for another being, the money I can spend on books instead.
no subject
Yes, sort-of; it's more that I dislike immature people, a category which many children (and adults) fall into.
Why did you opt out of parenthood?
I don't have the patience, money, or good health to be a parent. There are too many people on this planet already. The culture that I've encountered in the US of motherhood/expectation that strangers adore your brats is atrocious.
Do you think your childhood experiences and/or your parents actions influenced your decision?
No, my parents and grandparents were and always have been children-focused, supportive, etc. My mother babysat for a handful of toddlers when I was growing up, which is when I started to discover I just could not relate to them. My sister who had the same experiences does want children.
What is the most common reaction/comment you get when people find out you’re Child-Free?
That I'll change my mind and find the right man. Literally people I've known for less than 30 seconds (specifically doctors/nurses where this info is relevant) tell me this, making assumptions about my sexuality, relationship status, and thinking they know my own mind better than I do with a single statement.
Do you have any Child-free friends or relatives?
Of my 6 aunts and uncles, only 1 has kids, the others mostly clear they didn't want kids for ages. Even though I "knew" this growing up, it didn't occur to me until I was nearly 18 that I could actually make that choice for myself (and it was because I encountered a CF comm on LJ). It was such a relief when that realization hit!
How do you feel/react when your loved ones announce they’re expecting?
Mostly disappointed unless I was expecting it, but either way I plaster on a happy face. It's not that I'm not happy for them, knowing they want kids, it's just that I cannot relate at all to the desire, and I know from experience it's going to cause a distancing in our relationship.
Are you worried you might one day regret your decision?
Nope.
(For women) Don’t you want to experience being pregnant?
Hell no. My body would not be able to handle it.
Is your current partner Childfree as well?
Yes.
Is it possible to be in a happy, fulfilling relationship without children?
100%
Define parenthood in one word
Responsibility
Do you think you would be a good parent? Why/Why Not?
Maybe, because I'm a perfectionist and would do all the research, although there's no easy answers often to being a parent and that ambiguity would be bad for me. And there's no guarantee all the "right" things would lead to a well-functioning child. And I would completely stress 24/7 and lose who I am in the process, so no thank you.
Do you have pets? Do you think you transfer the nurturing and love intended for a child unto your pet(s)?
Yes; no. I dote on my cat and treat her like the princess she is, but it is a very different relationship from parenting.
Which label do you prefer? Child-Free or Childless?
Child-free. Less for me implies I'm lacking something I want, which I'm not.
Do you actively encourage the people around you to think about their reproductive CHOICES?
If anything I just try to correct/point out wording people use if they're ignoring the possibility of other valid choices in general conversation.
Are you worried about who will take care of you when you’re old?
No.
What is the best part about being Child-Free?
Having peace of mind, being able to disconnect from everything and have significant time to myself, not having to deal with the 24/7 logistics of care and upbringing for another being, the money I can spend on books instead.