I am so happy not having kids

[ForestGoblin]

Had an existential wobble but now I'm of an age where the window is closing I'm feeling real alignments with this life.

No life is perfect but I really feel it's a blessing to have had this choice. Thank GOD for living now, when we can really live as our authentic selves.

High five to everyone who is living the old Polonius lifestyle, whatever that looks like for them.

Ah yes, the magical thinking. I remember my then-partner trying to talk me into children by telling me our lives wouldn't change, we'd just do all the things we did before but with children in tow.

I didn't know whether to laugh at his hopeless naivety or cry at the very idea of having children with someone who had so little idea of what children entail. You've only got to see the staring-eyed look of horror on the faces of the newly-childed to know that - unless you're living in some kind of Earth Mother community to start with - having a child lobs a hand grenade into your life. And they just keep coming.

I have friends who insisted their lives wouldn't change and - poof! - they disappeared for years on end only to emerge as very different people. I also know women who desperately regret their children, even to the point of walking away, and there was no way in hell I was risking that, even if "You'd make a great mum/you won't regret it/it'll be the making of you/you'll love them when they're here"

I remember my then-partner trying to talk me into children by telling me our lives wouldn't change, we'd just do all the things we did before but with children in tow

'Lives wouldn't change' - probably HIS wouldn't, just that yours would. Drastically.

@GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin I had an ex who wanted to impregnate 23-year-old me and wanted us to go backpacking around Asia with a couple of kids in tow.

Actually I think I was still 21 when he cooked up the scheme now that I think about it! Nutter.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwBQJl7J2zX/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Made me think of this thread😁

MrsDanvers

Exhibit A
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4876223-so-what-happens-when-were-all-old-and-we-dont-own-our-homes?page=1