Amber, I agree very strongly! I do believe that some parents are really dedicated and wanted their kids and the whole deal that cones along with them, these types don't get us...however, there are most certainly those who are flat out envious of freedom, spending money on special dates or travels, romance
:), and flexible schedules. I don't get i t, they could've made the same choice. It's like a friend of mine who was saying she wished she worked p/t like I do. So why don't you, I said. Oh because we have kids to put through college , she said. I thought to myself, well you CHOSE to have them so dont complain that you have to support them!

I think you're right, there are a lot of people out there who aren't happy with their lives, but our society won't let them say it's because they're parents. You can almost see some women thinking, "NOT having kids?? That's an option?? Why didn't anyone tell me?!?"

I think society has painted such a glowing picture of parenthood that couples are shocked by the reality of it once they have children... the expense, and the time committment is enormous. I've heard some women talk about their children with a lot of true resentment.

It's all a conspiracy, and too many people fall for the O'ke doke. Women are brainwashed into thinking motherhood is a given. Kids limit your education, ability to make money and your overall power. Control the womb, control the world. Keep em' barefoot and pregnant, keep em' in poverty. That's why the church and the Republican party are so Pro-Life. You think they really care about women and children. If they did we'd have free healthcare and the best education system in the world.

Piper, it's refreshing to know that i'm not the only ones who thinks that. Did you ever notice that all of the pro-lifers don't get a rats behind about the kid after it's born? Or what about the mother that can't support the child and struggles through welfare? And now all of a sudden, that kids nothing but a "trailer-trash delinquent," with a mother that "never should've been allowed to have children in the first place". Trust me, that's some of the cleaner comments that I've heard from those kind of people…..

Louise, I could not agree more! And I absolutely do not want to ever be that person. Which is exactly why we CHOSE this lifestyle. What i can't understand is how people want to criticize me and others like me for exercising my constitutional rights! No where in the Bill of Rights does it say "Thou shalt produce enough children to make other people happy". Nope haven't seen that article….!

You ever notice how "empty nesters" are so happy all of the time?! I think they got the hint after the first 21+ years of support! :D

I'm reading your comments and it is so refreshing to be among like-minded people. In my experience child-free people have put much more thought into their decision than people who do decide to have children. I agree with Amber that most people just have kids because it's the next step in society's life manual. I think that for many parents their discomfort with child-free people is not from jealousy (although if they knew what they were missing it would be) as much as discomfort with the idea that not everyone takes the same path they did. Society (and women in particular) are sold a bill of goods that life is only meaningful if you have kids. The fact is that I find spending time with my boyfriend (we have been together for several years but don't believe in marriage), playing with our pets and advancing in my career. I like sleeping in on a Sunday and saving for our first condo rather than putting every cent and spare moment into a child. Most people don't understand that, but that's okay.

I can't tell you how many people think sleeping in til noon on Sat/Sun is weird. I actually use to feel guilty. I work hard all week, I deserve to rest as long as my body tells me to. People judge me becuase I don't go to church on Sunday. Instead, I volunteer at an animal shelter. If there's anyone "up there" judging me, I think he would give me more credit for helping the least of gods creatures, rather than wasting my time sitting in a pew listening to some man tell me what an awful person I am.

One thing that I find really sad about this topic is the fact that so many settle down with the wrong person too soon because of the fear of getting too old to become a parent. I think it's so true that there are many people out there who simply don't think of a child-free life as an option. I'm not just talking about women here.
Some like to make DINKs feel guilty for our "selfish" choices, mostly because they resent the unhappy situation they have created for themselves.
Plus, don't you just love when people say childless by choice is selfish, and then later follow up with "Who will take care of you when you're old?" That isn't selfish? Hmm...