Child free and smug

I think with the older generation those without children often didn't choose that. I know we've had the pill since the 60s but when I was younger it was more of a decision to delay children and not so common to decide not to have them.

I had no desire to have children until my late 30s when it was a case of now or never. I had no interest in babies or children ( still don't). But my own were the best thing ever.
I do wonder if the same might be true for others who decide at a young age that they won't have children.

Allira

Dogs love you unconditionally 😁 🐶
Cats love themselves. 😾

My cats definitely loved me. The idea that cats aren’t affectionate is nonsense. True, they are rather more independent than dogs, but that’s not a bad thing.

Oops sorry Aveline, I love cats, probably more so than dogs, with or without their foibles. I think the Egyptians knew a thing or two when they deemed them gods, yes definitely that's how I perceive them furry superior beings🐈

Not every child free couple is childless by choice.

Grannynannywanny

This thread has made me think of Biglouis. I haven’t seen her posting in months and this is a thread she would have been all over. I hope she is ok although she seems to be gone from GN.

I thought of her as well and hope she is ok.

Aveline

Am outraged at comments about cats. All our cats have been devoted to us and demonstrated that constantly over the years.
I like dogs too, wouldn't want one but wouldn't denigrate them either. 😾

Oops, sorry!!

Cats always seem to be their own person, iyswim.

Also, I saw a birthday card once which said 'Dogs think they're human, Cats know they're Gods'.

Aveline

I'd have liked another baby but couldn't afford it. We cut our coat according to our cloth. Not everyone does it would seem!

No, we didn't 😁
Our little surprise was (and is) a delight.

This thread has made me think of Biglouis. I haven’t seen her posting in months and this is a thread she would have been all over. I hope she is ok although she seems to be gone from GN.

We had 5 children on a fairly low incomebut we "cut our cloth" too Aveline

Camping and "staying with friends" type holidays, selling produce, old car etc. I think children aren't necessarily as expensive as some think.
...obviously no Public Schools - but plenty of activities.

I'd have liked another baby but couldn't afford it. We cut our coat according to our cloth. Not everyone does it would seem!

My DD and her husband decided not to have children. I did not for one second miss not having grandchildren. What you don't have you don't miss. I fully accepted their decision based on their view there were too many of us already. When I see many young especially single parents (never seem to acknowledge there isa father somewhere) struggling with their children at times I wonder why they have had so many children. I would love a mercedes sports car but can't afford it so go for my old saloon just like having children, can't afford them, well don't have them or so many.

Maybe the best thing is to avoid Instagram?! And pretend to be older and wiser? (Speaking personally here…;-))

Am outraged at comments about cats. All our cats have been devoted to us and demonstrated that constantly over the years.
I like dogs too, wouldn't want one but wouldn't denigrate them either. 😾

I've known people who have had children and regret it . I have no children and I certainly don't regret it

I believe that to have children you should really want them as they are so demanding - not a fashion accessory or just a thing in a push chair where you can entertain them with a mobile phone

...and of course whilst dogs have owners/parents, cats have staff, and they're prone to nag if their food isn't on their platters at the prescribed time The staff of course can be relplaced, two a penny, "I'll just go next door" is always at the fore in the cat brain. Never mind despite of their fickle nature, still love them.

Child free and smug...... some people are Child-obssessed and equally smug.
Once upon a time some people had children and some people didn't and that was just life and people didn't endlessly bang on about it.
Always with the exception that one had great sympathy with people who longed for children and unfortunately were unable to have them.
It takes all sorts.

Dogs love you unconditionally 😁 🐶
Cats love themselves. 😾

Why are you judging them. A lady with whom I worked for many yeas said to me mother of three sons "Children ar
e no substitute for dogs" fine by me, each unto their own.

I do have a family that know me and with whom I have shared memories but they are not children. Mr J and I are childless by choice but we very much have a loving and caring family around us. People refer to us as not having a family when they mean you don't have children. Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles are family too.

Parsley3

^I've always been and always will be a a very proud and honoured pet mum. TheWeirdoAgain^
You call yourself a mum so you know about maternal feelings. I longed for a baby and was lucky enough to be able to have one. If there is no such longing, then so be it. There is no need to justify it or disparage parents. Live and let live.

I agree wholeheartedly. It’s whatever’s best for the parents, but MOST OF ALL, for the child! I think it is better not to have children if you don’t want them. We wanted ours very much and were thrilled when grandchildren were added to the mix. Now there is a great grandchild too and it’s wonderful!
That said, my life does not revolve around them. We meet because we want to, not from duty and that is great. I have my own life (my husband died a few years ago) and they are an important part of it but I don’t depend on them.

Why the mother in law Whethertomorrow? Could just as easily have been their mother.

I never wanted any children when I was in my teens,too busy enjoying myself and partying. We ended up with a bunch of them and I don’t regret it but equally I don’t think I would have regretted it if we hadn’t had any. You live your lives accordingly. I now have a load of grandchildren and great grandchildren which is lovely - all love and hugs and no responsibilities. We have a couple of cats who I adore,too. I don’t think about care homes and none of my children will be looking after me,either, thank you very much. We all kark it suddenly in our family.

Kandinsky

*I find the entire thing of pregnancy, birthing etc to be utterly sickening*

Whilst others find it the most beautiful thing in the world.

Then I am surprised you are on here. Surely you knew from the heading that it would be about pregnancy, birth etc.
It’s a good job your mother didn’t feel the same! Or is it??

I've always been and always will be a a very proud and honoured pet mum. TheWeirdoAgain
You call yourself a mum so you know about maternal feelings. I longed for a baby and was lucky enough to be able to have one. If there is no such longing, then so be it. There is no need to justify it or disparage parents. Live and let live.

Perhaps the anti-breeders were married and the mother in law immediately said ‘ hello nice to meet you, and I hope you’re not going to keep me waiting for grandchildren like hubbies brother and his wife’ ! They’d been married 3 years, in their 20’s and were both building careers.

When you have such constant outside pressure you must start to respond with an ever increasing annoyance and determination to protest your own feelings.