I have never wanted children. I have been ridiculed for this I have been told I'm not a real woman I've been told that if I don't have children I'll never be fulfilled in my life etc etc. Before I even go on a date I tell men I do not want kids ever. They'll try to talk me into adoption or all this other stuff but be yourself if you don't want kids don't have kids. It's better to not have kids because you don't want them then to have kids and not want them. I'm 49 years old now and I am so glad I never had children.

Many people tend to get freaked out by anything that suggests their lifescript dogmas are not the only option. If there's a paradigm in which there's a choice, then there must be a "wrong" choice. Belief in supernatural, wanting kids, wanting sex, anything. Binaries abound.

I regard it as a sign of immaturity when someone gets freaked out over something that doesn't concern them. And I am on guard for squashing this in myself.

I figured out long ago that the most nuturing thing I can do--for the world--is not replicate my DNA, which definitely carries high probability of genes for mental illness, addiction, and a particularly nasty chronic pain condition. You're welcome.

I'm solid on the "don't have any / don't want any" side. I think it may be more common among atheists and agnostics for a lot of reasons. We already question religion, so questioning having kids isn't much of a stretch. No religious pressure to have children because "it's god's will".

Yes it is. I have no children, and let me tell you it is becoming a hassle to explain to people that I am not married and don't have children and I am 45 year old. I consistently get surprised looks then that hmm...what's happened to her?....look....and occasional ' something must be wrong with her look'.

I am single by choice. This too is hard for some to understand. They just can't imagine why a female would want to be 'alone'. And when I say that I am not alone I have friends and that would rather be single then be with someone I don't love just for sake of 'not being alone' they humm and nod ...with dazed looks...They just don't know what to say.

When i tell them I have no children this too becomes a 'pity party' or 'reproductive failure party' with 'there there you'll find someone...tsk tsk...its maddening.

It's your choice and nobody's business. I don't want kids either

I wanted kids but was unable to have them. I have quite a few friends who don't want and do not intend to have kids. It is none of anyone's business but yours and your partner's. When someone asks with whom I don't wish to share my grief on the subject, I say things like "I'm a terrific aunt" or "I work for everybody's kids (I.e. supporting the local school board).

You are NOT alone. I don't want kids either. I like them, especially babies, but I love my freedom even more. I think it's becoming less of a stigma, but I still feel the societal pressure. I choose to ignore it, but it wasn't always that easy for me. There was a time when I felt my life was worthless unless I got married and made babies. Women for centuries have been raised to believe their purpose is to bear children. That has been proven to be largely untrue. There are plenty of other worthy things you can choose to do with your life, and anyone who tells you otherwise is dead wrong.

Live your life and enjoy it.

Why would you want to bring kids into this world right now?

My grandkids are not going to live as long as me because of the water, air and soil contamination. Many of us live in sacrifice zones. Many get what flows downstream.

It is your choice. But not a good one, considering the crazy amount of ignorant people that have children and pass on their ignorance to them.

For women, it seems. If it were more of an acceptable choice, I think more people would choose it.

There's a few threads on this already - if you read through them, you'll see you are miles and miles away from being alone on this ! (women and men)

I got my vasectomy when I was 27. The thought of kids gives me anxiety. Dateing single moms is the worst - it's always drama and annoying
Main reason I'm single is because most the women around have or want kids

I am 74 and never produced a child. I have seen the effect of poverty and over population and that I way I have not brought children into this world .

You are definitely not alone. I have never wanted kids either and had a vasectomy when I was ~30. My doctor put me off for a year saying I might regret it. I haven't regretted it for a second.

I got a bunch of comments like, you'd be such a good dad, or some variation when I was younger. I don't think comments or questions like that even register with me anymore. I've heard them all, especially the few times I worked in the Southern US.

These days it's a plus. Most women I might be interested in either never wanted kids or had them already and don't want more.

I didntnwant kids but had one at 42. It's the best thing that ever happened to me. But thats just me. Didnt want a second. There is noting wrong with not wanting kids. But its one of those things some people feel they have a right to judge. They don't have that right but it never stopped anyone before.

I don't want kids either

I don't see why people think they should decided for you. If you are more comfortable without kids , you shouldn't have them.

I was married for 7 years before having baby at 29. 12 years later 2nd child at 42-second marriage. Everyone is different. My 22 yr old and her boyfriend of 5 years don't want kids. My best friend never had kids.

My daughter does not want kids, my son does want kids, but not a spouse, he and a gay friend of ours discuss this often, she also wants kids but not a spouse.

I got my vasectomy when I was 27. The thought of kids gives me anxiety. Dateing single moms is the worst - it's always drama and annoying
Main reason I'm single is because most the women around have or want kids