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

" 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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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