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[epione]

My boyfriend just sent me this article. What do you all think of it?

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More people making the decision to not have childrenNovember 1, 2011 11:11:46

Comments

[agent_diamond]

It's crap. I didn't choose a career over children, I've never wanted children and I happen to have a career. If I had children and a career, I'd be a lot like many of my coworkers. I also would probably be over-stressed, angry and bitter. Childrearing is not for everyone, and I know it's not for me. I pity the fool that tries to convince me otherwise.

[laikalexilu]

I'm not down with this 'legacy' nonsense; I just want to have a nice life with my husband, not change the bloody world.

I don't feel the need to go all *career bitch* to prove a point (I'm too busy in my career to have kids etc etc blah), I'm just happy with my decision.

It's nice see an article about the whole childfree thing though, shame it's not the best.

[starcat_jewel]

I think this article was written for the non-childfree, and therefore pushes a few ideas which sound plausible to them even though we see the holes immediately. And for some childfree people, the argument "I've chosen to do something ELSE with my life" is both valid and useful, so I'm glad to see it getting some official traction.

[ladyfelicity]

I think it does bug me that we should need to justify our childfreeness by saying "Oh, well, but I benefit the world still! I volunteer and do charity work!" Not that these are bad things. But it would disturb me that parents would not feel that need to justify their choices like that, especially when some of them do a rather crappy job at parenting.

As clothmother alluded to, it can be kind of liberating not to worry that you *have* to have a purpose. That you owe the world something. Granted, some people take more than they give, but some people are a little more on the selfless side and could use permission not to have to justify their existence (or not having a child, which would presumably stand in place of some other "purpose") ...

[moropus]

I'm over-stressed, angry and bitter without kids. With them I would be locked up somewhere with padded walls. Something to take the place of kids is kinda silly. I've never felt the slightest urge to have a kid. I'm not exactly sure what a child replacement is. A pet you spend loads of money on? A job you work too many hours at? A computer that costs too much? Trips other people can't afford? Because I've had all of those and didn't consider them child replacements.

I think anyone who supports themselves for the majority of their life does not need any further justification.