“Having children shouldn’t be the default it should be something you WANT.”
Every woman’s experience is different.
“I always knew.
My mom was constantly tired, miserable, and snapping at others.
I never want to make a child feel how I felt growing up a constant burden.
u/Beautiful-Yoghurt-11
2.
She just left the room.
u/The_Book-JDP
3.
“At about 29, I had always wanted children.
So by default, I became a babysitter/second mom at a young age.
Once COVID hit, a lot of my friends started settling down and having kids, adoptingdogs, whatever.
u/DemonTofu
4.
I was already on the fence before then, but yeah…no.
u/Particular-Natural12
5.
“I knew from my earliest memories because I would never even play with baby dolls.
My sister loved that because they all became hers.
I refused to ‘play the momma’ as a small child.
I am now 44 and my desire to never have kids has not wavered for one second.
Getting pregnant is still my absolute worst nightmare lol.”
u/TzanzaNG
6.
I saw how postpartum affected my sister and the struggles she went through.
u/Whole-Signature-453
7.
I’m all set he’s a teenager now, and I never want to do this again.”
u/iam-melonlord
“Oh, man this is the one.
My sister is 15 years younger than me and is about to be in middle school.
I was gone for two years and now I’m back home.
She’s so grown now I feel so out of touch.”
u/Careful-Pop1335
8.
“[I knew] after 15 years of teaching primary school.
I think it’s best I just have a go at keep myself above water and help others.”
u/Relative-Tone-4429
9.
“I never had the desire to have kids.
u/hi_heythere
10.
The number of people with diseases who can pass them down through MANY generations absolutely scares me.
Why would I want to do that to my child potentially?????”
LIKE…YES IT FUCKING WILL.
I’d rather end [any kind of life-threatening disease] with me.”
u/ChiccyNuggie20
11.
“My youngest sibling was born when I was six years old.
I remember thinking how weird it was for her to assume that.
I’ve always been very clear that I wanted to be child-free.
He said girls who claimed that were usually the first to have kids.
I looked him right in the eye and said, ‘Well, not me.’
We’re both very happy.
u/MinusGravitas
12.
I often wonder if my decision would be different if I lived there.”
u/Emmydyre
13.
“When I was a kid, I never dreamed about getting married or having children like my friends.
I knew in high school that I didn’t want to have children for sure.
When asked, ‘Where will you be in 10 years?’
other girls would say, ‘Married with kids.’
Instead, I would say, ‘I’m not sure hopefully traveling.’
I do verify to travel internationally every couple of years.
I love some of my friends' kids and I’m a good auntie.
Spending time with them still only reaffirms my desire never to be a parent.”
u/redjessa
14.
“The thought never really appealed to me.
As a kid, I thought it was an inevitable thing that everyone goes through eventually.
u/RubY-F0x
15.
“I was seven years old and my mom was pregnant with twins.
The pregnancy was horrific (especially with two newborns).
u/Send_bird_pics
“All three of my sisters have kids and every single one of their pregnancies was horrific.
Knowing that, I would never have kids now.
u/dragongirl_09
16.
“The idea of pregnancy and childbirth doesn’t bring me any positive feelings or thoughts.
I have numerous inherited conditions that my siblings didn’t get.
Also, I love sleep too much.”
u/livvibeth
17.
“Ann Landers was a famous columnist in the ’70s.
There was a huge response and 72% said no.
I was floored and decided at that moment I would never have kids.
I think I hadn’t even reached puberty yet.”
u/squatter_
18.
“I was on the fence about it until I was 23.
Now that I am 25, I can definitely say for sure that I do not want them.
I value my life and the small luxuries too much.”
Having children shouldn’t be the default it should be something you WANT.”
u/peachhoneymango
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
