Anyone else sometimes get a wave of relief that they don’t have children?

[knowifIcando]

I’m in my late 30s and have known I think for a long time that I didn’t want kids. I’ve never really actively thought about it although now and then wonder if I’ll regret it.

And then I have moments like today. I’ve been at my sister’s house and my nieces are lovely, gorgeous kids but then she started talking to them about how they had to get their uniforms sorted for school, get the homework done and have baths and I felt such a feeling of relief that I had decided not to have them and could return to my peaceful home.

This thread made me think again about my exciting shitshow of a life and how most of it would absolutely not be possible with kids. It does sometimes hit DH and I when we are planning another spur of the moment few hundred miles move over some beers and crisps😂

Your thinking of moving?

We just did (again). Already eyeing up next possible locations 😂Did stint abroad too. Can't sit still too long. My ideal life would be nice big house on wheels and complete wfh.

It does come with downsides but the excited is great

Similarly, DH and I are both self-employed in precarious but mostly fulfilling work that can occasionally have either of us on a plane, or a long distance train, with under 24 hours notice. Or working away for days/weeks/months at a time. Although we're not relocators - home has been the same place for years. Your life sounds fab. 😃

No way could we have had the life we've had for the last 25+ years (and continue to have) with kids. Financially and practically it would have been impossible.

And early mornings. Quiet, at my own pace and I can have breakfast / go to the gym without having to worry about getting anyone else dressed or off to school.

@GiveMeWordGames your sounds fab too! Maybe if we had jobs like that we would stay in one place😂
Grateful I don't have to think about school catchments

I have 2 DC (21& 18) and love a peaceful morning. That phase( getting people up for school) is for 10 years (age 5-15)

Early morning calm and peace is my favourite.

That would be 10 years too many, & they’re still there before & after that! And it’s also the concept of having to deal with anyone in my home first thing in the morning, except for occasional visitors.

Are you planning on staying within the UK on your next move?

Yeah the advantages far outweigh the 10 years of getting up ready for school - especially when you are getting yourself up anyway

Well if you want tolive alone permanently then that is different - but I would say that is quite a niche position.

Niche or not it's her wishes and her life.

Oh course but different from not wanting children

Does she want children?

Likewise. Not having to talk to another human being first thing in the morning and enjoying that peace and quiet and listening to the birds singing and little other noise is one of my favourite things about being single and child free. I don’t want ten minutes of of having to get kids ready for school/nursery let alone 10 years(Perhaps more if they have special needs) I need too much space and I detest noise especially in the morning. That peace and quiet is too valuable and essential to me to want to give it up. There’s only one person I could ever live with again and it certainly isn’t a man or a child.

Are we being scolded/patronised in stereo now?

Sounds like it.

What I wouldn’t like is meeting strange men or women in my kitchen that my adult children have brought home for the night!

DH and I have got a trip up to the northwest of Scotland and Skye later in the summer, we take several days to drive up, staying in hotels, have a lovely one bedroom lochside cottage with a hot tub for the first week and another lovely one on Skye where we have some island hopping booked too. Can’t imagine doing that with small kids or even teens, they would be bored!

This evening I’m especially grateful to be childfree because a neighbour’s kid screams(literally) with alarming regularity and it’s incredibly irritating to listen to and I wish that they’d consider their neighbours and call them in but at least I don’t have to live with them. Nothing could make that tolerable or worthwhile for me.

Lovely, hot tub with loch view sounds great!

That sounds like a wonderful trip. I hope that it’s even better than it sounds and that you have a lovely time(Though how could you not?)

Most likely yes, unless something "can't say no" happens. More likely will just take longer stretches travelling. Moving internationally is pain in the arse even childfree

Oh we will. I love Scotland!

Enjoy! Don't forget to take shitty pixel peer m2 picture of Nessies