ADVERTISEMENT

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.

RELATED:

    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

    goldengateblond Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #4

    Brag (Xpost)

    greyghost6 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Luke Branwen
    Community Member
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    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.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    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

    OhNoSheTwitnt Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #7

    Childfree Memes

    molly7anne Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Steve Hall
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually, I do like children more than I like tattoos, but that's not saying much of either.

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

    Babies are emote expensive more painful and more permanent. To get rid of a baby u have to murder it and that illegal

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

    I have family members who judged other family members for getting married because "it's permanent" even though the judgey ones had multiple kids. There's nothing wrong with not getting married, but marriage is less permanent than making another human. Now if they had thought that someone was rushing into marriage or incompatible with their future spouse that would be one thing, but the objection was, "marriage is permanent". Like no, divorce exists. Let's seance Henry VIII and ask him about it.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #8

    Holy S**t This Is Good

    Peter_Parkingmeter Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT

    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.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    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

    NatashaMLee Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

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

    ADVERTISEMENT

    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

    reddit.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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."

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #15

    So Good

    grrlindz Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT

    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

    momomcsherbbles Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.....

    View more commentsArrow down menu

    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.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #25

    Saw This In Suspiciouslyspecific. Thought It Belonged Here

    EmmaStonewallJackson Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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"

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #26

    Best Costume Year Round

    alpinewandern Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #27

    "Enjoy The Remainder Of Your Lonely Existence."

    reddit.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #28

    It Stops With You

    reddit.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #29

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

    AvatarMew Report

    #30

    Childfree Memes

    FirstGentleman Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #31

    And Then You Proceed To Fling It Out The Window

    -PsychedelicSloth- Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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".

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #35

    Hilarious

    devBowman Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #36

    Me Irl Af 😂

    BEZthePEZ Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Dark Pearl
    Community Member
    1 year 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*

    trapford-stretch Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #40

    Mom Is Going To Be A Little Dissapointed

    PublicMail5 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
    Unlimited content
    Ad-free browsing
    Dark mode
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #41

    Wife And I Heard It The Other Day

    illusive_guy Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #42

    Finally Found A Place To Post This

    The_Frenchiest_Fry84 Report

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

    One of the worst things about this whole topic is how many people treat having a child like some mandatory milestone instead of something you have to genuinely desire. IMO there wouldn't be so many f#cked-up people if only people who genuinely WANT children had them.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #43

    Spotted In The Wild, Thought You Guys Would Find This Funny

    reddit.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Inella‍
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “Look, mommy, I almost chopped my fingers all the way off! Yay me! 🤪”

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #44

    Nails On A Chalkboard Man-

    shizzlebuzzbubble Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    cerinamroth
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think most childfree people aren't such knobs that they don't want to talk to a 3YO - they just don't want it to be their 3YO, which is understandable! Most childfree people I know are very happy to be involved as loving aunties and uncles.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #45

    It's That Simple

    devBowman Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #46

    A Purse Full Of Love I Guess

    Excellent_Patience Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Eldritch_catt0
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's probably one of the main reasons why I don't want kind. I am really protective of my stuff. You break, scratch, dirty something and you are automatically my enemy. Especially since I do art. Can't even imagine the rage I'd feel if I found a pice of mine covered in ugly doodles:(

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #47

    Parents, It's Not Going To Happen!

    Excellent_Patience Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #48

    Kids Are Fun

    reddit.com Report

    #49

    See The Meme! 😂

    99zakya Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #50

    Gotta Find Me Some New Friends Now

    patiolinguist Report

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

    A few days ago I've seen my elementary school classmate with two children and I was like "HOW? Aren't WE still kids?" It always takes a while before I remember I'm 27

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu