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Kids aren't for everyone. Some people simply have different priorities and goals that do not align with raising children. To be specific, a 2022 Michigan State University study found that 21.64% of American adults are choosing to be childfree.

Instead of condemning them, like many like to do, and saying that they will regret this after some time, let's try to understand this group instead. For that, the subreddit 'Childfree' is the perfect resource.

Created back in 2009, it now unites 1.5 million members whose posts provide a better understanding of what happens after you make this life decision.

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    So the big question is: do people later regret not having children? They might not.

    "[We] found no evidence that older childfree adults experience any more life regret than older parents,” Jennifer Watling Neal, the co-author of the aforementioned Michigan State University study, said.

    “In fact, older parents were slightly more likely to want to change something about their life.”

    #3

    Childfree Memes

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    Malfar
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My next door neighbor has a kid with a mental disorder. The kid likes to jump and howl. Starts at 6 am. I kinda got used already.

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    #4

    Brag (Xpost)

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    Luke Branwen
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've seen some tradwife post something like "I feel bad for girls in their 20s who are single and childless while I'm married with two kids at 21" and the whole Tumblr agreed her life sounds like hell.

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    Sometimes the other party might doubt their course, too. YouGov data from 2021 found that 1 in 12 British parents (8%) currently regret having kids.

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    Younger parents aged 25 to 34 (one imagines the most sleep-deprived group) were the most likely to feel his way, while those aged 55 and over were the least regretful.

    #6

    Childfree Memes

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    Victoria
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    NGL, this got me good. I'm cackling sitting in the train during morning commute.

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    #8

    Holy S**t This Is Good

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    CaliCoast
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stopping a suicide is always a very good thing. That said, this is a very good reason!

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    Similarly, a 2013 Gallup survey found that around 7% of American parents older than 45 wouldn’t have any kids if they “had to do it over again.”

    Parents in Germany seem exceptionally unhappy: a study discovered that 19% of German mothers and 20% of fathers say that if they could decide again, they would not want to have any more children.

    #10

    Childfree Memes

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    CanadianDimes
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg yes, I hate that! I'm single and have no kids and I still have a family! Just because they don't live with me doesn't mean they are not my family.

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    We reached out to the moderators of the subreddit, and one of them, Mel, agreed to tell us more about it.

    They explained to Bored Panda that it's important to understand that "we're not the right community for parents to wax lyrical about their kids, and we're not here to provide an emotional labor 'village' for parents."

    "We see limited interactions between parents and childfree people on our subreddit, and we lock comments should they become uncivil," Mel added. "We acknowledge that we are one of the bigger online childfree-centered communities, and one of our primary aims is to maintain a safe space for childfree people."

    #14

    Democracy

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    Luke Branwen
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "This is how liberty dies... with a thunderous scream of a newborn."

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    #15

    So Good

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    Elio
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh look, parenting advice from the dude in charge of the religious institution that has frequent scandals for protecting pedophiles and giving them access to victims.

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    The ultimate takeaway from all the research and people's activity on the subreddit could be that having kids isn't good or bad per se. It may sound cliché but there is more than one way to live a happy and fulfilling life.

    Parenthood should be a choice. Not an inevitable duty.

    As my colleague Jonas wrote in our earlier publication on the subreddit 'Childfree', the grown-up thing to do is to respect each other, even if we might do things differently.

    #17

    Yeet

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    Tim R
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The smile on the baby's face is what made me laugh WAY too hard at this.....

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    As for the future of 'Childfree,' Mel said the moderators anticipate the subreddit will "hold steady" for some time, and continue to see slow but consistent growth.

    "We do every so often see trends and changes in posted content and we expect these ebbs and flows to continue. For example, some weeks I'll have 20 new submissions for the childfree-friendly doctors list and others I'll have 3," they explained.

    #25

    Saw This In Suspiciouslyspecific. Thought It Belonged Here

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    Jenny Hornig
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes, when my boyfriend and I have our Familyday on Sundays, I look at him, sitting in front of his playstation in cozy clothes and me, laptop on my legs and no pants, both of us munching on snacks, our cats peacefully sleeping around us, and think: "A kid would really ruin this"

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    #26

    Best Costume Year Round

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    Dumpster Fire
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read that wrong. I read it as -SEX WHENEVER YOU WANT (DOES NOT INCLUDE S****Y F*****G KIDS), one sentence.

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    #27

    "Enjoy The Remainder Of Your Lonely Existence."

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    whodunnitfan2013
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since my hysterectomy, I laugh when going past the baby needs, family planning, and pad/tampon aisles.

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    #28

    It Stops With You

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    Elio
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yay, I'm not making more bipolar alcoholic drug addicts! But even if that was a non-isssue, still wouldn't want kids.

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    #29

    I Made This! I Wish More People Around Me Were Having Cats Instead Of Human Children!

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    #30

    Childfree Memes

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every once in a while I look around and I just can't believe people are still having children.

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    #31

    And Then You Proceed To Fling It Out The Window

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    Malfar
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's still a difference between "I am not planning on being a parent" and "I hate kids with a passion".

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    #35

    Hilarious

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    sturmwesen
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I call them glue kids if the parents try to fix their broken relationship by having a baby. They seldom work. I know some one who is trying for glue kid #2 ... at this point I am taking bets.

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    #36

    Me Irl Af 😂

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    Dark Pearl
    Community Member
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    PARKS AND RECREATION <3333333333333 (also same, kids make things Gross with a capital G)

    #37

    *tokyo Drift Starts Playing*

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    Chris Jones
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in a small close of 12 houses. About half have children. Yet they're the ones driving in fast without worrying about what might be in the road. Wonder if it's because they know where their kids are and don't care about anyone elses.

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    #40

    Mom Is Going To Be A Little Dissapointed

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    Jon Steensen
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Noted, now we have heard your opinion, go on and move along. Getting a child, only to please your parents' needs a couple of times each month is a really stupid idea, when you will pay the price of putting in a lot of hard work each day. The cost benefit analysis is simply too scewed in this context, and it surprice me how many "grandparents" completely fail to notice this when they put up their demands. Children or no children, that is entirely your decition to make and it is none of their business. Trying to get their will by pressuring/guilting you is a nasty move to make.

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    Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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