To ask why you didn't/don't want children?

[alfie22]

I'm in no way judging anybody who have decided not to have DCs.

But I am genuinely intrigued for the reasons why after reading a thread about somebody's DD not wanting children.

What are your reasons for not having children? Would there any be "what ifs" further down the line?

As a childfree woman, I care about the planet and it's future greatly.

All to your honour. I don't. It's going to be wiped out eventually anyhow. Also it's already known several ice ages, warmer ages and five mass extinctions. I think it's more resilient than most give it credit for.

There’s an obsession on this thread I mean @marshabradyo - it’s been asked about 8 times why people who aren’t mothers are on mumsnet! I didn’t mean the site in general.

If only mothers posted I’m sure people would still get relevant knowledge but why would some people wonder why childfree people are on mumsnet when they may have relevant advice as well. They may have an opinion or knowledge or have children in their lives which allows them to advise on the same situation the poster is going through.

Oh ok yes this thread has attracted it but agree it’s not the case for the site, which is good

Yep, as a childfree woman I generally feel pretty welcome here. Every so often the ‘why are childless people on mumsnet’ threads pop up but the nice mums stick up for us

Oh ok yes this thread has attracted it but agree it’s not the case for the site, which is good

Surely that's only by virtue of other posters not knowing the poster responding to their thread is childfree?

I think it's more resilient than most give it credit for

Ah, that's okay then! Phew, I was worried until you said that.

IceRebel I really don’t think so, I can’t see why it would be an issue

Surely that's only by virtue of other posters not knowing the poster responding to their thread is childfree?

Should we have a caveat at the end of every post? Something like...*

*Childfree

I mean why would someone care if their question how to train for a marathon was answered by a mother or child free it’s still advice

This thread is just a bit more provocative

I was just reading this thread -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3611709-To-say-that-every-woman-on-MN-should-read-this-article

• a potential cost of having children that might not be immediately apparent/another reason to be glad I don't.

Should we have a caveat at the end of every post? Something like...Childfree

Shudders, goodness no. I get enough people thinking my opinion matters less in some areas because I don't have kids.

I'm glad you aren't resentful paying taxes for schools. After all, all the young people will be paying taxes to keep you in good health in your old age.

As a single person living alone, I get a 25% discount on council tax. Only half the number of people as the couple next door, yet I get three quarters of the bill. And they’re childless. On the other side is a couple with three kids, all in full-time education and using the NHS - yet I pay just 25% less than they do. If, I’m 30 years, those children are paying taxes that go towards my long-term care (once my savings are gone and my home has been sold), I’ll consider it my long overdue turn for a slice of the pie.

well I'm glad you aren't resentful paying taxes for schools. After all, all the young people will be paying taxes to keep you in good health in your old age

What a patronising tone this poster has.

Explaining to the childfree how taxes work. I'm sure none of us had the first clue. Truly you spoil us

So long as I'm not paying for Prince Charles's toilet seat covers, I'm good.

I wonder if we could have a topic board for those of us on here that are childfree by choice, or whether it would just be infiltrated in the same way this thread has.

What an excellent idea

Easier to hide the topic, you could be left alone

I wonder if we could have a topic board for those of us on here that are childfree by choice, or whether it would just be infiltrated in the same way this thread has.
But....but....
This is MUMSnet! For MUMS!
Local MUMS - we'll have no childfree here!

Besides, I'm sure the MN organisation has no interest in seeing their message board grow, develop, become more inclusive, lucrative ...

It's for MUMS. Always has been, always will be.

that could be interesting.

I expect MN would be happy to set up a new topic board. They might need to change their logo as well: mumsnet
by parents for parents.

Agree that it would be a good idea to have a new topic for it. I asked for something similar on a different message board (more local to me) a few years ago, as it had tons of forums for various stages of parenting, but no childfree sub within it. I got inundated with abuse and told it was pointless because "why would we want to talk about things that don't exist?" My reasoning was that it would be good to have a space to talk about how we came to our decision, pros/cons, impact on relationships, societal pressure, etc, but I was quickly shot down by defensive parents.

I don’t think anyone will shoot you down here

It can be happily segregated

@mumsnet can we have our own board pretty please?!

@MarshaBradyo You've been posting a constant stream of goady one liners on this thread for the past couple of days when you could have simply hidden the thread. I doubt that those who're determined as you are to infiltrate these discussions will be deterred by a separate child free board.

Why I think it’s a good idea so what?

I will hide the topic and so will others

Win win

‘Infiltrate’ is ridiculous this was posted on the main boards on a public site

But you’re less likely to have posts from people who make the mistake to read and comment if it’s separate