TOPIC

Choosing Childfree



Many of us grow up with the expectation that we’ll have children someday. For many of us, making the decision to not have children can be disapproved of—or at the very least surprising to—our family or community, whether our concerns are financial, philosophical, emotional, or spiritual. Whether we are making the decision with a partner or on our own, we sometimes want some guidance from those who more closely understand our concerns.

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14:37

I Don’t Want Children—Stop Telling Me I’ll Change My Mind | Christen Reighter

One in five women in the United States will not have a biological child, and Christen Reighter is one of them. From a young age, she knew she didn’t want kids, in spite of the insistence of many people (including her doctor) who told her she’d change her mind.

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Regretting Motherhood: A Study

Women who opt not to be mothers are frequently warned that they will regret their decision later in life, yet we rarely talk about the possibility that the opposite might also be true—that women who have children might regret it.

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Childfree by Choice, Regretting Parenthood and the Taboo of Freedom

A growing number of adults are choosing to pursue a life without children. Still, many people — especially women — say that they feel judged by their families, friends and even their own doctors when they vocalize a desire to be childfree.

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FindCenterHaving a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it’s what you want before you commit.

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06:58

Being Childfree By Choice: Five Women on Why They Decided Not to Have Kids

As part of the Guardian’s Childfree series, five women discuss why having children isn’t for them—and how others perceive them as a result. ‘There’s no wrong way to be a woman,’ says Sabrina, 25.

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Discovery of ‘Mom Gene’ May Explain Why Some of Us Don’t Crave Having Kids

In the world of mothers, I have learned there are two kinds—women who love being a mom but honestly believe they would feel no less complete if they weren’t and those who could not imagine being anything else.

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12:24

Parents Open Up About Regretting Having Kids

Not all people should have kids and these people wish they hadn’t. Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian, the hosts of The Young Turks, tell you why they regret becoming parents. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

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09:50

Parents Open Up About Regretting Having Kids

In this video parents open up about regretting having kids. Unfortunately it does happen and it’s an important topic to talk about when deciding to live childfree or have kids.

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03:03

Dolly Parton Doesn’t Regret Never Having Children for One Simple Reason

Dolly Parton talked about her personal life in an interview where she explained her view on motherhood. The singer has a valid reason for staying childless. Nonetheless, Dolly Parton says that she feels like all children are her children.

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One Writer on Helping to Raise Her Son in an "Open" Adoption

Pregnant and in college, Amy Seek chose to give up her son in an “open” adoption. She describes the joys and challenges of staying in his life­—part-time.

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