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How do people feel about people who are childless?

Do you think it is the case that very many people feel that it is a bad thing to not have any children? Do many people in our society feel it is bad, or perhaps simply sad or unfortunate, for a person or couple to never bear a child or adopt any?

AlasBabylon 8 May 19
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64 comments (26 - 50)

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2

I think there are many people who tend to see others who've made different life choices in a negative light.

1

Surely we can accept parents and childless people equally. We have 2 boys but that doesn't make be any better or worse or different than others. I love the old joke about the rhythm method of birth control, promoted by the Roman Church. "What do you call people who use the rhythm method?"
Parents!

1

I'm childless, though sometimes with a little regret. Plenty of nieces and nephews though...

0

Lucky dogs!

1

Fine. The world already has enough mouths to feed. I just hope that most chose childessness. To deeply want kids but be unable to can be heartbreaking.

Zster Level 8 May 20, 2018
3

For some reason, it is an expectation that everyone either wants children or should have children. Unfortunately, many people thought it was a good idea, but they were lousy parents!

5

My oldest son and his wife decided back when they first met that they didn't want children. I never had a problem with their decision.

Having children is a huge responsibility. If you don't want the life-long commitment, you shouldn't have them.

5

I work in child welfare and I don't want people who don't want children to have them. It is a personal choice either way.

1

I’m fine with whatever people decide.

5

I'm childless. Tho I've had a few 'instant' family situations in my time, & currently have 3 "step" grandkids, whom I love dearly, I was really never the father type, so just as well not to get in that situation.

0

A lot of people give women who don't want to have children a hard time because they just unthinkingly accept what's been fed into their heads.

0

It comes down to choice. Babies should be wanted, so someone who doesn't want or is ambivalent should not be making babies. Babies are an incredible time and money sponge. I have three daughters, two have babies. The third is the most nurturing of all of them, but doesn't want to have babies. She is the best auntie ever, and she is going to be taking care of her parents as we age. She is busy with her career, she is a volunteer with CASA, she is incredible. But she never wanted to have kids. I support her fully in her choices.

0

I think is is totally a personal decision. People can lead fulfilling lives with or without children and I don't think raising children is imperative to the human experience.

0

I can't speak for anyone else but I have to say I personally don't care what anyone else thinks about me and the way that I might live my life. The choice to have children, or not, is a personal one - and no business of anyone else's so they can get on with making their own lives how they want to live them and good luck no matter what they choose. And good luck to all the people who care about how others are choosing to live their lives, its another kind of life choice.

jacpod Level 8 June 22, 2018
0

I think it is tremendous when people don't have children. My experience is that many people want babies, not children. There are also, certainly in Oz and UK, state payments for the children that are born. There are far too many people on the planet as it is, without another generation filled with no hope, despair and world governments that don't give a damn. I used to think eugenics was a bad idea. Now I am not too sure!

0

A child is for life, not just for Christmas (as the old RSPCA ad went!)

6

Religious people feel it is very "sinful" for a couple to choose childlessness. Non religious people, you get a variety of reactions.

SKH78 Level 8 May 19, 2018
5

Sometimes being childless is a choice. My best friend and her husband have been married 30 yrs and chose not to have children but are a mentor to my daughter and couldn't have more love to give. They chose to live a different life, and it's a beautiful one.

1

I feel bad because my mom wants grand kids and I don’t want children. She talks about it constantly and it doesn’t help that all of her sisters (7 of them) all have grand kids.

3

Societal norms (man, I hate those things) do pressure folks to have kids.
.
But have them or not, ain't none of my business.

2

I believe having, or not having them is a highly personal choice. Society-parts of it- may feel bad about folks choosing to have no kids...but that’s THEIR opinion. And none of their business.
Wouldn’t the world be so much better if we all just minded our own effing business?!

2

For me having kids was a personal growth experience. Before the kids I was self-focused and self-absorbed. That changed. Suddenly you can't do what you would like to do, there are two are beings to consider and look after. It was the most challenging experience in my life and I'm glad they ended up as good human beings even though both are in their 20's now and I rarely see them.
I've had a few dates with women who never had kids. They were still stuck in the state I was in once.
Now if you choose not to have kids there are plenty of charitable organizations you can get involved in and donate to.

2

I sort of feel bad for people whom it's clear wished they had them, but that's it. Otoh there are too many people on this spinning ball. I never thought I'd have them myself until hit 30 sooo.
My body was all "fooled ya didn't I? 😛 " We haven't spoken since ...

3

I don't feel positively or negatively for childless people. They are like people with brown hair vs people with blonde hair...just people.

3

I have no children and l feel great. I haven't seen anything that has made me regret my decision.

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