Many parents will tell you that having children is the most rewarding thing you can do in life... but not everybody agrees.
Although we're told from a young age that we're all expected to "get married and have kids", there are many people out there that know this isn't for them. I'm sure that doesn't stop the incessant questioning from relatives at family events about "When are you having kids?" But it's time we all accepted that some people are perfectly happy choosing not to have children.
To prove this point, a recent Reddit thread asked the people of the internet: "People over 50 that chose to be childfree, do you regret your decision? Why or why not?"
The question was asked by Redditor 'ADreamyNightOwl', and the responses they received are eye-opening, perfectly valid, and - in some cases - rather enviable. Here are some of our favorites:
From videoman7189: "Not one bit. I have never believed that I would be a good parent. I have a short temper, and while I don't think I would have been physically abusive, my words and tone of voice would be harsh in a very similar way to my own father. I wasn't happy growing up with that kind parent and I wouldn't want to subject any child to that kind of parenting."
From WhoThenDevised: "My wife and I married when we were in college. After graduating we started our careers and some time later we wondered if we weren't missing out on something, like children, and decided 'No, this is great, let's keep going like this.' That was 30 years ago and it's still great and we still keep it going."
From rotyag: "No regrets. Being child-free has offered us many abilities that wouldn't be If we had children. Traveled to 27 countries and in good fashion. Self-employed and couldn't have risked it with children. I get up on the days off and do as I wish. I suspect there is a disconnection in that I'd have more contact with my family. But there is also a freedom in that it doesn't feel like an obligation. We hang, drink beer around the fire and who cares what time you go to bed. Or in my case, fall over like a narcoleptic."
From adari-: "Realized when I was 17 that the feeling I would have when I lost my folks eventually was going to be so awful, that I would never want to put anybody through it, and made the decision to never have kids. My father died last year. I have no regrets, though I now sometimes wonder what a child of mine would have been like, if they would have been like my dad."
From Powerful-Knee3150: "I always knew I did not want children. Climate change makes me even more glad I did not contribute to overpopulation nor create someone to live through the coming disaster."
From rumbellina: "Not one bit! I can eat pizza for breakfast, leave the house when/if I want, sleep in and my house isn’t sticky. I’m a preschool teacher so I get paid to be with children. At the end of the day, we go our separate ways. I have nephews and friends with kids so I just get to be the fun aunt without any of the responsibilities. Also, given the state of the world, I don’t believe it’s a healthy environment to raise a child."
From Grenadier856: "No! It just didn’t happen for me, and I’m happily child-free. That said, I have a nephew I love to death, and we’re very close. No regrets! If you decide to remain child-free, there are a million ways to fill your life with love, adventure, and meaning. And they all belong to you."
From northlondonhippy: "Pushing 60 here, never had kids. One of my better life choices. The world is a s**t show, existence is pain. I didn’t add to it, I didn’t make someone else suffer. My kid won’t have to endure the climate apocalypse, because my kid was never born. I feel sorry for you younger generations, we have f***ed up the planet, badly, and it’s you guys who will pay for it."
From Susanna-Saunders: "The world is far too ugly and violent to ever want to bring another human being into this world. That was obvious to me as a child and remains my view now in my late 50s."
From inkchick666: "I'm 61. I knew I didn't want kids after my brother was born when I was 9 and a half. I finally convinced my doctor I really wanted my tubes tied and did so when I was 24. Never looked back, never regretted it for a moment. It was the best decision I ever made for myself."
From IBeTrippin: "I explain it to people like this - you know that feeling you get where you just can't wait to teach your kid how to play baseball? or whatever it is you want to share with them? I don't have that. Its basically a lack of parental instinct. Having children was never something I aspired to. My SO is the same way.
"Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against children. And I get really angry at people who harm them or mistreat them. I just never wanted my own."
