It's ok to not want or like children!!!

[rene moon]

I don't care for children and I don't want them. Doesn't make me any less knowledgeable or worldly than those who do. It just means I don't have kids.

What's wrong with that?

[felonious thunk]

1. I hope it's ok

Cause I'm on that boat with you!

[ewagner]

2. Nothing wrong at all

It's a matter of personal preference.

[Richardo]

3. That's what Mrs. R and I say...

14 years married, no kids. :thumbsup:

[rene moon]

Cool

Have people given you a hard time about it? I've been married a year and people will not shut up about having kids!!! It's annoying

[Richardo]

14. Just say "It's private" or something like that...no need to go into a big

...explanation.

If you phrase it right, and let your lower lip quiver a little, they might just assume it's "beyond your control". But don't get into a debate about it.

[rene moon]

17. I don't know why people are so nosy

and they especially get miffed that you have no children. I personally think they are jealous of my choice.:shrug:

[Richardo]

20. The most underutilized phrase in America: "It's none of your business."

In these days of total exposure of EVERYTHING from EVERYBODY; people seem to think they have the right to ask anything they want - there are no boundaries anymore.

Everybody: Repeat after me: "It's none of your business." :D

[wysimdnwyg]

23. I tend to be a little more, um, "forceful" in my reply

"What the fuck do YOU care if and when I get married? And even if I DO ever get married, what business is it of yours if I have kids or not???"

But then, I can only get away with that because I've FINALLY convinced my parents to stop bugging me. I'd never say it like that to them.

[Pithlet]

21. I was very lucky.

That never happened to me. It is rude to ask such questions, though. Nosy, rude people abound.

[Pithlet]

4. There's nothing wrong with that.

At all.

[complain jane]

5. Amen!

From a full grown adult who just returned from a trip to Disney World. Wall-to-wall screaming spoiled kids and stressed-out, uptight parents. Yech.

[Pithlet]

7. I do have to ask.

What did you expect at Disney World?

[complain jane]

10. I'd never been before

but I guess I wasn't expected crying kids all over... happy ones, not crying...

What do I know.

[Pithlet]

13. Well, kids cry.

Now you know :) Avoid that place like the plague.

[ulysses]

11. true enough!

:D

[bubblesby2002]

6. Not a damn thing

Childless here and loving it.

[ihaveaquestion]

8. If you don't like children - you shouldn't have them.

Kudos to you for realizing it and not inflicting your kid-dislike on your own tribe. Lots of people don't like them or can't handle them and therefore really shouldn't have children, but they have them anyway. Sad.

[rene moon]

16. What's with the attitude?

I can handle kids, I take care of my niece alot. I just dont want any of my own!

[SW FL Dem]

9. Nothing. I have several friends who opted never to have children

To each his/her own. For me, being a mom is the best thing I have ever done, but I can understand why someone might choose not to do it.

[sbj405]

12. Nothing

It's the people that do not want or like children that end up having kids that scare me.

[SarahB]

15. Fine by me.

Having children is a lot of work most of the time. If someone doesn't want them, they shouldn't have them. It's their preference really. :shrug:

[livetohike]

18. No kids here either

and married for 29 years.

My family gave up asking about it years ago, but even now people ask why I never had kids. It is annoying to me as I am sure asking them why they have kids would be rude.

I am an environmentalist and in fact will be attending my local Dem meeting tomorrow.We always get great speakers and this month the subject is "World Population: the Ultimate Environmental Issue." I believe it starts at home :-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Sure it is..but there's ways to communicate it without alienating others

I'm not terribly fond of being around children for long periods of time, but I also try not to make them out to be criminals for not quite being socialized yet..they are, after all, in training.

I've just seen this topic become extremely hostile on DU and think it's not terribly productive.

I don't have children.
I don't want to have children..and if I wish to avoid them there's plenty of ways to do that without alienating their parents.

[Pithlet]

22. Great post.

:thumbsup:

[complain jane]

27. I agree

I think sometimes the subject turns hostile because our society puts a lot of pressure on having kids and if you don't want them you are looked at a little differently. That's what I think, anyway. Just my opinion.

My best friend struggles with her new motherhood all the time. It's not easy for her to be a mom but she does the best she can and she has really great days where she wants another one soon and then she has days where she questions the choice to even have a child in the first place. When she has the bad days, she says she feels like a failure. I told her it's normal to have those days; feeling like a freak for having those feelings is only going to make it worse so talk about it and vent it out and then it won't be so bad. She says every time she turns on the TV or sees an ad for kids' stuff, it always shows these blissful mothers and so she feels like she's a failure for having days where she struggles with having a little being who needs you 24/7.

I agree with the posters who said that if you don't want children you shouldn't have them. It's a rough job.

on edit: I left out the fact that of course she has great days too, and that she really does love her daughter.

[rene moon]

26. I am never rude to people who have children

As it was their choice to do so. I just want my choice respected. I think its ok to love children and I think it's ok to hate them as well.

If it doesnt bother people personally, then why are so many bothered by the notion that others dont want/need/love kids?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. I try to avoid using the word HATE in most circumstances involving people

It's a toxic reactivating word...I doubt we'd entertain threads that say
I HATE black people
I HATE asians
I HATE women or
I HATE men

So why is it OK to tolerate threads saying I HATE children?

Get my drift?

[rene moon]

31. I understand your point

But what if people really do hate black people, asians, women, me or children? People do and no amount of PCing it will make it go away.

I dont hate anything, except spiders and cockroaches!! AGHHHH!!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. I don't find it PC to challenge people about irrational hatred

If people really DO hate black people, asians, women, men and children..they're most likely a bigot, sexist, racist or come other IST that does not serve humanity well...I think it's best to assist them in getting to the source of their irrational hatred so that the world and humanity can realize its full potential free of irrational, damaging hatred...calling it Politically Correct to do the right thing is like saying it is PC to rescue someone from a burning building.

That's how I feel irrational hatred.

[Rainbowreflect]

24. My husband and I have been married for almost 13 years

and no children.
I love children, work with and for children and my nephew is one of the most important people in my life.
But I have no desire to have children of my own. I have seen too many horrible parents in my career and have strong feelings against bringing another life into the world right now when there are so many children not being cared for.

[Kat45]

25. I'm with you there. Never wanted them, and that doesn't

make me a bad person. Problem is, I've had situations where I met guys who really did want to have kids. And that sucks for me. :shrug:

[cheezus]

28. Well, it means you don't have the experience of having kids

Which is something that many, if not most adults have.

[rene moon]

29. So What?

I have periods every month and half the population will never experience that!

Being someone's mother was never appealing to me. It seems like a fate worth than death, IMO (and mine alone)!

[TEXASYANKEE]

32. I'm with you!

I'm 44 years old and have never had one single urge to have children. Cat, dogs, lovers -- yes. Children, no. I've always thought that I was just plain odd. I mean, women should have that motherly urge, right? Well I never have.

[rene moon]

33. Dont feel bad

Me neither and I'm almost 30.