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"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids

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Every adult is free to choose what kind of family they build and whether or not they want to have children. The decision is very personal and nobody should feel like they’re pressured to choose one way or the other. However, every decision—no matter how major or minor—has consequences, both positive and negative.
Redditor u/winter-thv went on the r/AskWomen subreddit and asked its ‘childfree’ members to share the “toughest and best” parts of choosing not to have kids. What followed was a very candid thread about the upsides and downsides of such a lifestyle.
Scroll down to read what these redditors had to say, dear Pandas. Are you 'childfree'? Do you have kids? How do you feel about your choices? Don’t forget to share your honest thoughts in the comments. 

#1

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
The best part is total freedom. The hardest part? I don't know. It's not hard to not have something you don't want.
101points

#2

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest? Just dealing with people who think they know me better than myself. From parents and acquaintances to doctors, it's always "oh you'll change your mind/it's different when it's yours/what if your partner wants them" etc. I'm 30. If I wanted them by now, I would have. If I get pregnant, I'll terminate.
The best part? All my time and money (besides work and neccesities) are mine to do with what I please. No screaming children, no diapers, no worrying about babysitters, etc. You could not pay me enough to have kids. We are more than just potential mothers. We are people with our own wants, desires, and dreams.
96points

#3

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
As a woman who still has doubts about being childfree, the toughest part is wondering if I’ll regret my decision.
The best part, is the freedom of conscience, knowing that I’m not bringing a child into the world without knowing if I really want to.
83points

Many women in the r/AskWomen thread said that they didn’t regret their decisions and fully embraced the freedom and financial opportunities offered to them by their childfree lifestyle.

However, others noted that they’ve had relationships fall apart because of their choices and were looked down on. Others noted that they’re unsure if they might not regret their decision later on in life. Everyone’s specific circumstances seem to be unique, but there are some common threads. A lot of people can’t seem to stomach a woman not wanting to raise kids. And this isn’t the first time that we’re hearing about this.

#4

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest part:
Being looked at as less of a woman, as less of a person, because I don't have children. I don't think it's fair.
Best part:
There's one less person that I'm at risk of disappointing. I always told myself (when I was younger) that if I had a kid, I'd have to be the best mom on the planet and with my current state of mind, I know that wouldn't be the case.
I'm at peace knowing I'm not ruining another person's life or giving them less than they deserve. There are enough "bad mothers" in the world, I won't be one of them.
79points

#5

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest is finding like-minded people who don’t make children the centre of the universe.
The best part is everything freaking else. My life is a stress-free, flexible, travel-filled, well-financed, well rested, and greatly enjoyed breeze. I love it.
75points

#6

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
I love the freedom I have, my money is entirely my own, I can be selfish with it and I don’t need to worry about ensuring a small person is fed and warm.
For me the toughest part is that all my friends have kids, I’m single and so I have no one to do spontaneous things with because my friends all have to consider childcare etc but I’m happy doing things alone so that’s not the worst I guess. Also one of my friends became a mum and that became her whole personality, to the point that she stopped bothering to talk to me because I couldn’t possibly relate, she was my closest friend, that sucked.
59points

A while back, Bored Panda had gotten in touch with u/Raveynfyre, one of the moderators running the popular r/childfree subreddit that welcomes people who choose not to have children.

There are two similar terms that people in the community like to distinguish between. ‘Childfree’ individuals don’t have kids because they don’t want them. Meanwhile, ‘childless’ folks either can’t have kids or simply haven’t gotten around to having them yet. Generally speaking though, large chunks of the internet shame both categories of people because they feel that they must have kids, at all costs.

#7

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest:
Finding out my partner of over 15+ years actually DID want kids the whole time and just assumed I would change my mind eventually. Also, learning they actually never wanted to get married without kids in the equation, because "what's the point?". We built an entire CF life together, and now I'm working on my exit because there's no other way this can go.
Best:
Having the ability to devote my time and efforts into things that make me happy for myself, and having full control over how I choose to spend my life.
53points

#8

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
I haven‘t faced any negative parts except people‘s assumptions I‘d still "change my mind" or misogynistic remarks because I‘m so young.
The best part is simply not having to take care of a child, struggle with the child‘s father and go through pregnancy/childbirth/postpartum etc.
50points

#9

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest: annoying people who think that’s there’s *no way* a woman would ever *choose* to be child-free, I “just haven’t met the right man yet” or “it’ll happen” or “I used to think that way too, until I had kids of my own.” Ok, that’s great, please leave me alone, because I don’t have the energy to justify my VERY valid reasons for foregoing kids, the most prominent being I have absolutely *zero* urge or desire to procreate. I am completely lacking the “biological clock.”
Also, when I tried internet dating, it was pretty damn tough trying to find a dude who didn’t want or already have kids.
Best: F*****G FREEDOM. Everything that comes with NOT having my life revolve around spawn. Do I want to change jobs? Travel? Get another tarantula? Move? Have disposable income? Sleep in and then waste the day playing video games? Not have my things covered in boogers, feces, or whatever else kids get into? Use the restroom in peace? I can do it! And there are no regrets or questioning, just a quiet validation.
Oddly enough, I like *working* with kids and am getting my MA to be a therapist (I want to help kids/adolescents with trauma). I also love being able to send them back home, lol.
47points

If you do have kids, it’s best that you want to do want to be a parent, rather than just giving in to social pressure or ticking some box. And while parenting can be even more rewarding and that it is challenging, it also doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to live. Raising munchkins isn’t for everyone: it’s completely valid not to want to be a parent. However, childfree people tend to get a lot of hate because they live their lives differently than the ‘norm.’ 

However, it’s not just childfree individuals who have to deal with tough situations. As we’ve covered on Bored Panda before, pregnant employees tend to face discrimination, too, for example, in the workplace.

Managers and colleagues tend to view pregnant employees as less competent and productive. As a result, quite a few employees end up hiding the fact that they’re pregnant as long as they can. Of course, this sort of discrimination is illegal in many countries. If you feel like this is happening despite your best attempts to work things out with management and HR, you may want to seek legal help or involve your union.

#10

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Best part: more financial freedom, and I get to finally put myself first.
Worst part: people telling me it's my duty as a human with a uterus to have a child. And other intrusive questions.
45points

#11

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest was being taken seriously by medical professionals to get a surgery.
Best? I have all the money and time in the world and zero extra responsibility.
42points

#12

Worst part - wondering if you've made a terrible mistake about not having kids.
Best part - not having made a terrible mistake and had kids
Report
40points

#13

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Toughest part - the idea that I may end up in a care home one day or living alone as a feeble old lady and have no family to come and visit me ever.
The best - I enjoy not having the responsibility, I have young niblings and my friend has recently had a baby, they’re hard f*****g work and they cost a fortune. I like that I can go where I went, when I want. I like that I can buy myself silly luxuries that I wouldn’t be able to afford if I was off work looking after a child or paying for childcare. I like my peace and quiet too much.
38points

#14

Toughest? Being berated and belittled for most of my 20s, 30s, and early 40s that I couldn’t possibly know what true love is because I’d never be a mother.
Best? I’ll never regret having a kid.
38points

#15

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Worst part is feeling excluded and cast aside by mom-friends once they become moms. Best part is living my best life.
35points

#16

Greatest part is everything lol. I’m living my best life. I have money, I travel, I can relax, I sleep in, I am able to engage in self care, I make art, I go to concerts and restaurants whenever I want, basically I do what I want when I want and I love the freedom being childfree gives me. also the peace and quiet and my home is beautiful and clean and relaxing at all times. I feel so free.
Oh and smashing the patriarchy. I freaking love smashing the patriarchy.
The hardest part is probably the judgment and parents thinking my partner and I are weird for not having kids. But I try not to let it bother me and it usually doesn’t! :)
32points

#17

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
Worst: the stupid questions/misogyny
Best: not losing my identity by becoming "Mom"
30points

#18

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
The hardest part is that my mom is great, and she truly deserves the joy of being a grandmother. But I can’t make that choice for her. If I could make her a grandma without becoming a mother, I would. I’m lucky, she’s nice about it, not one to always drop passive aggressive comments, but I know she feels the void.
The best part is not having that same, deep worry for the future. I still want the best for society and our planet, I want my goddaughters and the children of those I love to inherit a functional world — but, it’s not the same I don’t think. I’ve formed a detachment to the future that I didn’t have when I was younger snd don’t think I could have if I had children of my own
Oh, and money. Being a DINK is nice
29points

#19

"You Almost Always Get Forced To Work When Everyone Else Gets Time Off": 30 Women Get Honest About The Toughest And Best Part Of Not Having Kids
The best part is not being tied to a man after you break up lmao
The toughest is you almost always get forced to work when everyone else gets time off cause "BbBuTttt i HaVe KiDs"
29points

#20

Hardest: people telling me my life is incomplete about children. It is super invalidating of all everything I have accomplished.
Best: I have spare money. I do what I want. I don’t have to instill morals and ethics into a tiny human. I can eat cake for dinner and not feel like I am setting a bad example. I spend entire weekends playing video games.
29points
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