Lots of people in their 20s and 30s nowadays are on the fence about whether to have children or not. In 2023, 47% of Americans under 50 said they're more likely to remain childless than to have children in the future. As for people over the age of 50, 23% have never had children.
Of course, the reasons vary from person to person, but the one that is cited most often (39%) by older adults is that it just didn't happen. 33% of older Americans also didn't have kids because they didn't find the right partner, and 31% admitted they just didn't want to be parents.
But how do older, childless folks feel now? What are their lives like? Well, we can get some sort of idea from the stories people shared in a recent Reddit thread. When someone asked, "People in their 40s and 50s with no children, how does it feel?", older netizens flocked to share their thoughts about the best and worst parts of being childfree.
To know more about why and how people make the conscious decision not to have children, Bored Panda reached out to clarity coach Keltie Maguire. She kindly agreed to tell us more about how differently men, women, and people of other genders approach this decision. Keltie also shared some advice for people in their 30s who are struggling with their choice to remain childfree. Read her expert insights below!
#41
Totally awesome. My husband and I have been together for about 23 years and couldn’t be happier.
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12points
#42
It feels stupendous. Tremendous cream. F&CK a dollar and a dream.
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11points
#43
I don't think kids are everything that they are c*****d up to be in all honesty.
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11points
#44
Wonderful. I am not infrequently feeling gratitude for making the choice not to have children. Love kids. Did NOT want my own. I’m a woman who is almost certainly past the child rearing age and I have no regrets.
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11points
#45
30 years after I knew I didn’t want them, ship has sailed physically, and not one doubt or regret that no kids was for me. Life has been an adventure, impossibly had with kids in tow.
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11points
#46
No regret. Some of us are cut out for parenting, and some of us aren't. So glad that all choices are celebrated.
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11points
#47
I actually cannot have children biologically and I would not have changed a thing. I would not have been able to live in as many places as I have and met the amazing people on my journeys that I have.
Now I have the time to take care of my parents, who suffer from dementia. If I had kids, I'd be in the same boat as my sister, tied up in my own little bubble. I don't miss what I never had. I do enjoy spending time with my nephews, but glad to hand them back when I am ready to go home. I love kids, I truly do, but I was not meant to have them.
Now I have the time to take care of my parents, who suffer from dementia. If I had kids, I'd be in the same boat as my sister, tied up in my own little bubble. I don't miss what I never had. I do enjoy spending time with my nephews, but glad to hand them back when I am ready to go home. I love kids, I truly do, but I was not meant to have them.
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11points
#48
My time is mine to do as I want, I have disposable income to spend on hobbies/travel/life and plenty of down time to recharge as and when I need to. I have a bustling, fulfilling and very social life but it's on my terms and not beholden to someone else.
That said, I'm lucky in some respects to have a few awesome nephews. I get to be the cool uncle and have loads of fun with them when we hang out and watching them grow has been an amazing experience. I will always be there if they need me but at the end of the day they go back to being the full time responsibility of my sister, brother and their respective partners.
That said, I'm lucky in some respects to have a few awesome nephews. I get to be the cool uncle and have loads of fun with them when we hang out and watching them grow has been an amazing experience. I will always be there if they need me but at the end of the day they go back to being the full time responsibility of my sister, brother and their respective partners.
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10points
#49
Pretty awesome! Got paid yesterday (actually Thursday due to holiday). No bills this pay, so I have to make the hard decision to either invest or put in my HYSA. Though one.
My Saturday will consist of going to see my bro who has adult kids, then go see those same kids (my nieces). After, make the trek to hang with some close friends, and their kids who I actually love and adore.
Tonight, a fellow childfree "friend" will come over. We'll have plenty of drinks, listen to music and ease into the night. Tomo morning, I'll make breakfast and coffee. Or will head to brunch if too hungover.
Sunday I'll relax, probably finish the latest season of Squid Game and The Bear. Maybe practice the guitar and do some writing as I ease into Sunday night.
Life is swell.
Edit: 42 Male.
My Saturday will consist of going to see my bro who has adult kids, then go see those same kids (my nieces). After, make the trek to hang with some close friends, and their kids who I actually love and adore.
Tonight, a fellow childfree "friend" will come over. We'll have plenty of drinks, listen to music and ease into the night. Tomo morning, I'll make breakfast and coffee. Or will head to brunch if too hungover.
Sunday I'll relax, probably finish the latest season of Squid Game and The Bear. Maybe practice the guitar and do some writing as I ease into Sunday night.
Life is swell.
Edit: 42 Male.
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10points