What do you say to people without offspring who are pessimistic?

As a person with 5 children, I feel it is a valid reason not to have children.

With the issues I am aware of, climate change being just one, it's something I worry about for my children so it only seems natural for people to think that way

I have ‘that attitude’.
I didn’t chose not to have children, I was ambivalent to begin with; then the decision was made for me; and then I realised that it wasn’t for me.
I’m glad now that I didn’t have children, for various reasons; just one of them being the current depressing state of affairs.

I don’t understand why you have to say anything to them Daisymae
It’s their opinion and decision; not a debate

My late mother used to say that the next child to be born might be the one that helps to mend the world.

Childlessness, FannyCornforth, is not always a choice especially for those for whom there was no access to modern medical interventions.

DaisyAlice

My late mother used to say that the next child to be born might be the one that helps to mend the world.

Tes, I think they will need to be extraordinarily resilient and resourceful.. but just maybe they will succeed, I really hope so.

This is the first time anyone has asked me this. I have no living children. It wasn’t a choice but after my inherited health problem emerged I was relieved in a way that I hadn’t passed that on to another generation. My nieces and nephews have grown into wonderful people and are doing some good in the world. I do worry about my great nephews and great nieces.

Grantanow I think you have misunderstood FannyCornforth’s post. She wrote that it wasn’t her choice.

Thank you Blossoming, I don’t understand Grantanow’s point and why it was directed at me

I think a lot depends on personal circumstance. If people are able to give their offspring a secure, broad, balanced and sustainable future then procreate. Personally, I find it unfortunate that many children are born into circumstances which they did not ask for because unsustainable decisions were made by their parents/nation/continent. We also need to regard climate change, ecology, migration, consumerism. There are so many aspects which may, in time, prove to be unsustainable. We are but guardians of Mother Earth. What sort of world do we want to pass onto future generations? Is it fair on them to inherit a world that is exhausted?

Grantanow

Childlessness, FannyCornforth, is not always a choice especially for those for whom there was no access to modern medical interventions.

Ah, I get it now.
Of course, I’m aware of that, but I had the impression that the people referred to in the opening post were childfree by choice.
Obviously, one’s reaction to people who were childfree for other reasons would be different

LRavenscroft

I think a lot depends on personal circumstance. If people are able to give their offspring a secure, broad, balanced and sustainable future then procreate. Personally, I find it unfortunate that many children are born into circumstances which they did not ask for because unsustainable decisions were made by their parents/nation/continent. We also need to regard climate change, ecology, migration, consumerism. There are so many aspects which may, in time, prove to be unsustainable. We are but guardians of Mother Earth. What sort of world do we want to pass onto future generations? Is it fair on them to inherit a world that is exhausted?

wise words

pascal30

LRavenscroft

I think a lot depends on personal circumstance. If people are able to give their offspring a secure, broad, balanced and sustainable future then procreate. Personally, I find it unfortunate that many children are born into circumstances which they did not ask for because unsustainable decisions were made by their parents/nation/continent. We also need to regard climate change, ecology, migration, consumerism. There are so many aspects which may, in time, prove to be unsustainable. We are but guardians of Mother Earth. What sort of world do we want to pass onto future generations? Is it fair on them to inherit a world that is exhausted?

wise words

But how can anyone, in the world, wherever they are and however privileged they are, be sure of giving their children a secure, sustainable future?
The world as we humans know it is in crisis right now and no solution is yet in place, so the words 'secure' and 'sustainable' are surely impossible to guarantee right now, arent they?

So in response to the original question, I personally would tell such people that they are very wise.

Oldnproud

pascal30

LRavenscroft

I think a lot depends on personal circumstance. If people are able to give their offspring a secure, broad, balanced and sustainable future then procreate. Personally, I find it unfortunate that many children are born into circumstances which they did not ask for because unsustainable decisions were made by their parents/nation/continent. We also need to regard climate change, ecology, migration, consumerism. There are so many aspects which may, in time, prove to be unsustainable. We are but guardians of Mother Earth. What sort of world do we want to pass onto future generations? Is it fair on them to inherit a world that is exhausted?

wise words

But how can anyone, in the world, wherever they are and however privileged they are, be sure of giving their children a secure, sustainable future?
The world as we humans know it is in crisis right now and no solution is yet in place, so the words 'secure' and 'sustainable' are surely impossible to guarantee right now, arent they?

Exactly- even if the parents are loving, stable, and are able to afford to give the children a good start, education, etc- the world out there is very unstable at the moment, very volatile and dangerous, for all.

I am so glad I had my children, but not sure I would today. I certainly would think very hard.

" I am so glad I had my children, but not sure I would today. I certainly would think very hard. '

I feel the same, Fleurpepper.

People have been doom saying since time begun. Back in the 1960s people were saying the same things about not having children because it wasn't fair to have children when they were going to be bombed out of life or into terrible illness at any moment.

It was said in the 1930s under the shadow of Hitler and war. Yet life has rolled forward. Once Global warning is dealt with, the doomsayares will find something else to worry about.

Oldnproud

" I am so glad I had my children, but not sure I would today. I certainly would think very hard. '

I feel the same, Fleurpepper.

I think that is why I used the words 'if' and 'able'. Nothing in life is written in stone.

I feel that life is such a gift that we should just take a chance and grab it with both hands.

MOnica has a good point. Doom is nigh has been going on for a long time. Life has always been risky. There have always been wars and diseases and other natural disasters but we are still here.
I have GCs and have to hope they will be as resilient as our ancestors.

We were quite carefree when younger but when I tell my daughter that I think it's a difficult world now, compared to then, she has pointed out much that is better.
Perhaps every generation has its challenges.

My father was born during WW1, my mother just before it.
I, my sister and DH were born during WW2.
Our children were born at the height of the Cold War.
My grandchildren have been born into global warming.

AGAA4

MOnica has a good point. Doom is nigh has been going on for a long time. Life has always been risky. There have always been wars and diseases and other natural disasters but we are still here.
I have GCs and have to hope they will be as resilient as our ancestors.

Looking over history and around the world = for ever - life has been mostly very precarious for most people. Its just that in our time in parts of the West we have come to expect more.

I dont like to ask DS about how they feel about it, they had 4, because one child is very disabled and might not live beyond 20's...but I'd be interested in their answer..

....pretty sure it would be the same as my parents' mantra, "being in the world means trying to make it a better place".

and that has to be of course climate change issues.

I feel it's doomsaying. One thing for certain we will all die eventually.

My GGM outlived 3 of her 8 DC and said she was glad to be able to be at their deathbeds. That sounds most unnatural to me but it was obviously a comfort to her.

We find ways of coping with adversity and our DC and DGC will too.

I would tell them that having offspring can make you pessimistic too.

My son cut me off and I lost my GC, just because I cannot help him in his criminal endeavors. So I have done "the right thing" and still lost out.