How do you define 'childfree'?

[Lottapianos]

To me, being 'childfree' means that you don't have children, won't ever be having children, and (on balance) you are happy about that. I see parents on here saying things like 'i was childfree until I was 35' or 'i have a childfree weekend coming up'. Not having children yet is not the same as knowing that you won't ever be a parent. Other people taking care of your children for a while is not the same as being childfree. Some of us on here made a positive early choice to lead a childfree life, some of us got there later and through a more complex route, but we all share a common identity as people who are not parents

Do others on here agree?

I think perhaps the context-dependence of the term is the reason we get straying wide-eyed parents on this forum. "My dearly beloved children are in school, so I am now childfree and therefore can post here". ;-)

Yes.

Goodness only knows, so your explanation is as good as any.

Precisely.

I meant, why the announcement that there was a different thread debating a different word? What is that information for? Particularly with the omission of what the outcome was.

Sheesh. Is there any label left that hasn’t been co-opted by somebody or other?!

It’s not a big deal to people like me, and I suspect there are lots of people who think the same way. I use “childfree” to mean ‘free of children’. That can be forever or for a day; if forever it could be through choice, circumstance, whatever. It’s not that deep. I cannot muster up the energy to police my use of the word because someone else had been through a tough time, come through the other side, and now wants to co-opt this word as their prize. I’ve been through enough tough shit of my own in my life. I have never once expected non-family/friends to notice or care or acknowledge or anything, let alone adjust their vocabulary to show due respect to my experiences. Enough already.

Someone who has children but is having a break from them. I don't consider people without children as "child free" as they've never had that so aren't free of it. I don't associate people who don't have kids as anything to have a child status.

Agreed. If you have children, you are not childfree.

No, a parent would say. "The DC are at school". Because that's where they are supposed to be during the school day.

They would say "I'm child free this weekend" because usually a child is with it's parents, but perhaps on this occasion is staying with grandparents. Not the normal circumstance to be without child.

Any reason it has to be patronising "wide eyed parents" and their "dearly beloved" darlings? Does it feel better to try and be condescending rather than just say "people?"

Weekend without the kids.

Child free weekend 👌

Child free meal

Meal without the kids 🥂

Child free afternoon

Afternoon doing what I want 👍🏻

And that's deeply ingrained amongst my parent friends. Not something recently invented.

I think the difficulty arises when people can't accept this is their interpretation/opinion. Not the rule.

People have different opinions on the meaning of the word. Either you can accept that, or you can't.

But not being able to tolerate a different opinion, doesn't make it invalid.

I've never been childfree l, I've been looking for a man to impregnate me / TTC / a parent / the person in the shop who makes you sure you made the right choice. But surely there were people who considered themselves childfree, didn't want children / knew they wouldn't and so I'm pure intention were "childfree by choice" but then who for whatever reason changed their mind in their late 30s/40s so WERE childfree until they weren't
Otherwise no one can consider themselves childfree until they are physically unable? Even the staunchest advocate of no kids may change their mind with an unplanned pregnancy/ chance of circs

Exactly this.

How odd to try and commandeer a phrase that has several meanings.

In general usage obv but presumably on the context of threads on here about stigma of being childfree etc.you don't actually think they mean for 3 hours on a Sunday when their Dad has them et

n general usage obv but presumably on the context of threads on here about stigma of being childfree etc.you don't actually think they mean for 3 hours on a Sunday when their Dad has them et

That's a very specific, tiny corner of the internet. Is that what is being discussed. It didn't look like it on the OP.

i have a childfree weekend coming up

I think that's different to describing themselves as childfree generally. Like when you're a teenager and old enough to be left alone you might have said "I've got a parent free weekend".

The faux-naif disengenuity on this thread is tedious as are the poster who engage in this.

posters not poster. Regrettably, the plural.

I’d say a Childfree person is anyone without children, whatever the reason. However in different context a child free weekend, Childfree holiday, Childfree meal can all be used to describe an event without children, and I use that regularly. It’s an opinion, one group can’t just decide to own a phrase when lots of others use it for something else.

Wow.

I hadn't realised that the phrase was so contentious!

i hear "adults only" being used in that context a lot more than child free.

May be regional or areas, round here everyone uses Childfree for weekends without kids and other things. I hear it all the time!

Well, a parent (I presume since they spoke in the first person) earlier on the threat said exactly that:

"BigBeeee · Today 14:44
To me it means not having any children to look after. So my mother is childfree though she obviously has had children. I can go to the shops childfree if my DC are in school. It means what it says - without children."

The urge to explain my phrasing to you is lacking.