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.

Your post would be very helpful on a board for women deciding whether to have children, @MsDDxx, but not here - even if biology did only kick in when you were 30. A lot of the women on this board are either unable to have children or past the age of having them, & glad they didn’t.

Sometimes you just “know” something so it’s not even a choice.

For me the huge advantage the childfree have over us mothers is not frankly having the visceral worry about your children’s future. Climate change / war / AI / change in culture of our country. Will they find a job? Will they meet a kind man? Your headspace must be so clear I envy that.

HQ also said that there are better ways to respond to someone unfamiliar to the board than to immediately chase them off. It also says everyone is welcome…

And I have older teen girls - gorgeous fun and lively I am very lucky but my god do I worry about them in this porn soaked world 😢. The hassle they get from men would appall you, My usually calm and gentle Dh lost it the other day when a cyclist harassed our 16 year old.

I’m quoting the phrase HQ suggested. And reading a thread before posting is always a good idea.

It says everyone is welcome as long as they are respectful. Some parents posting on here have been far from that.

“Making an informed choice” means having all the information. The positives and the negatives.

All the parents on my team at work spend a lot of time complaining about it and they always seem to be rushing off to deal with one crisis or another. I just like my life quiet and simple, however weird that sounds. Each to their own as we say.

Half of 360 is 180. Just so you know.

I think that was one of the best/most embarrassing own goals I’ve seen on MN. 😂😂😂

sometimes I do especially when I look at my brother as he has 2 little girls as it’s a struggle as one of the girls has ADHD and it causes a lot of stress also his wife doesn’t work as she has mental health issues so all the financial burden is on him.

I'm late to this thread, and not read all of it. I'll have a read later. But, to answer, mostly no to be honest. I'm usually very upset about my childlessness, and extremely sensitive about it, and the comments people can thoughtlessly make. I longed to be a mother 😔
But, sometimes, when I think about the current state of the world, I feel glad I haven't inflicted it on innocents. But, really that's just me trying to make myself feel better.
Obviously there's a massive difference between childless and childfree women. If you've chosen it it's presumably a massive relief?!

I can imagine if you want children but can't have them then it must be very difficult x

Obviously there's a massive difference between childless and childfree women. If you've chosen it it's presumably a massive relief?!

I’m grateful for it every day - but as you say, there’s a massive difference. I’m so sorry, @WoodlandLove.

Childless/childfree purely by accident. It wasn't a conscious choice and I never really had that urge to procreate so never went about trying. In my 50s now I'm very glad I did not have babies.