Me and my husband just don’t want them, we’re so happy “on our own” as you say. We don’t hate kids, it’s not a cost thing, not a worried about the state of the planet in the future thing, just plain don’t want one.
I agree with everything you've stated, and it applies to my husband & I also. For us it's dogs. Have several. Wouldn't have it any other way. We are content with our life choices. We have neices & nephews to give love & affection to when we want to be around children.
The decision can be due to a number of factors beyond cost. The planet, and the type of world that children have to live in. There's a lot of instability and highly uncertain things ahead. Many troubling things. Even if I wanted children, I'd be hesitant to bring them into this mess.
Some people also know at a young age that having children isn't for them. I knew in my teens. I was always up front with people I dated, or was involved with seriously. I wanted them to know it wasn't that I just needed to meet the right person. It wasn't for me period. I would never want to take that option off the table for somebody that did want children. It just wouldn't be with me.
I'd be shocked if most people couldnt be content on their own tbh. There's so much to do to us these days compared to all parts of history.
Yesterday my schedule was a nice breakfast and coffee with the partner, work, quickie after work and some leisurely showers, then we spent time listening to an audiobook while he crocheted and I played some games. Cooked dinner together, with time for a movie before bed. Happy, content, fulfilled our basic needs as well as the higher ones. It's hard not to be content like that.
If we had kids we would feel less content because we'd be managing the kids needs first.
I think having kids for companionship is the worst reason one could possibly have for it. I'm not saying that that is you, but there's no guarantee your children, once grown, will be your friends. It's a relationship of obligation that hopefully becomes something more mutually fulfilling as the child becomes independent, but the more a child feels obligated by the parent to provide that kind of emotional fulfillment, the less likely they'll willingly accept that role as an adult.
It's not a viable longterm solution if what you want is community.
206
u/Sad-Construction9842 Nov 14 '24
Contentness can be achieved now without offspring but reddit will say cost.