Join the Fun!

dental__DAMN , Anastasia Shuraeva Report

Not everyone is meant to have kids, and that is totally fine. Despite what countless relatives, friends and strangers will tell you, you will not necessarily change your mind. Not every person starts imagining a future with little ones running around once they get married, turn thirty or see their ex start to raise a family. Having kids is a choice, regardless of what society may tell you.

But there are times where people end up with kids, even when they knew they did not want them. Whether it was a case of failed contraception, a drunken mistake, lack of access to abortion, or a partner not telling the other person that they were pregnant until it was too late, life happens. And once there is a child in the world, the responsibilities never seem to end. The important thing is to put the child first because it is not fair for a guardian to be bitter towards their innocent kid, but unfortunately, as this list goes to show, sometimes parents opt to neglect their children rather than acting selflessly.

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I read this Reddit story once that I have never been able to forget. It was a confession I think- can’t remember the subreddit. This woman had a kid she didn’t want, I can’t remember the circumstance of whether if was hers or a dead siblings. Anyway, she talked about how she felt so guilty for not loving him that she worked extra hard to give him a good life- all her money went toward his education and things he wanted. But the part I can’t forget is that she had set an alarm on her phone to go off everyday to remind her to tell him that she loved him, because it didn’t come naturally to tell him that and she was afraid of him not feeling loved.

That story is an amazing reminder that love comes in so many forms and looks different for everyone. She doesn’t love him, but is so worried about his well being that she goes to lengths many, many people with kids would never consider to go to to make him feel wanted and happy. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

Final score:

559points

POST

Linda Lee 2 years ago

Fantastic prospective.

147points

If you are a parent or you dream of becoming one, you might be shocked or horrified by this list. I know plenty of parents who could never imagine a life without their kids, but what they must understand is that not everyone feels that way. Not everyone gets baby fever when they see an infant or wants to hold their friend’s newborn. We don’t all dream about taking our little ones to school every morning and football games on the weekend.

There are plenty of valid reasons for wanting to be childfree, from simply not desiring to have kids to being concerned about the future of our planet and what kind of world their kids would grow up in. I remember a friend who has children once told me, “You don’t have kids because you want them. You have kids because you cannot imagine a life without them.” Not everyone has that mindset, of course, but she makes a great point. Having children can consume your entire life, suck up all of your income and ruin your sleep schedule, at least for the first few years. If you are not prepared to have a piece of your heart living outside of your body, perhaps kids are not for you.

Using an alt. because my main can be linked back to me and I'm going to get very real.

I had a perfect pregnancy. I was super cautious, took my prenatal vitamin every day, never drank, walked away if someone was smoking near me, etc.

My child is severely special needs. She's autistic, but on the severe end with "global developmental delay" which is just a nice way of saying "mentally disabled." She is six but is now just learning to potty train. She is non-verbal but thankfully understands simple directions. She screams for hours off and on at a time every day and when she isn't screaming she is making noises. She doesn't interact like a normal child and treats other people more like inanimate objects rather than people- no affection, no emotion, no interaction aside from pulling me to the fridge to get her food or handing me her toy so I can fix something on it.

I don't feel like a mom, I feel like a caregiver. I get little joy in taking care of her and I am constantly worn down. I'm exhausted. This pandemic has destroyed what little sanity I had left as I can't even get a small break because there is no school.

This is going to sound absolutely terrible and this is why I'm using an alt. but raising her is not like raising a child. You raise a child to be a decent adult- you teach them manners, respect, education and kindness and you hope that as they grow up they will make friends, get good grades in school and go on to have a fulfilling life. This feels like I am raising a very high maintenance pet that will not evolve into anything more.

For me, I am just keeping her alive- I am keeping her fed, clothed, warm, safe and happy. It feels like I have been taking care of a baby for the past six years. She progresses very slowly and very little. I am hoping by the time she is in her twenties we can maybe have a simple one or two sentence conversation or maybe she can have the attention span to watch and understand a movie. I still talk to her and play with her but it's so discouraging after years of not getting anything back. I mainly just snuggle with her on the couch while she plays with her tablet, it's one of the few ways we really bond. She likes toys and simple games on her tablet, so I buy her lots of them to keep her busy and hope that they keep her content so she isn't screaming and hitting herself.

I see children much younger than her having full conversations with their parents and I get so jealous. I see them telling their parents they want burgers for lunch, or talking about a fun thing they want to do or whatever, and I can't even imagine how easy my life would be if she could just communicate simple things like that.

It's so tough. I take her to the playground and the other kids ask why she won't talk or play with them (pre-covid days), we go out to the grocery store and she has a full meltdown and we have to leave our cart behind. We go out to eat and she can't sit still and wants to get up and run around the restaurant so we have to leave. She's only getting bigger and taller and she's getting harder to manage.

She hits herself and others. Sometimes she smears her poop all over the wall. She slams her head into the wall and furniture when she's frustrated (which is often, like multiple times a day). She broke a window with her head a few weeks ago and I was scared s**tless she was going to need stitches, but luckily she somehow came out unharmed aside from a bruised forehead. I don't know how I am going to handle her when she is a teen and as big as me. I don't like to think about it.

If I knew this was going to be my life, I would've never had her. When I was pregnant, my husband and I agreed that if we found out the fetus was going to have down syndrome or some other special needs we would abort. You cannot detect autism in the womb.

My husband and I have aged 20 years, we're overweight from stress eating, we're constantly on edge that she's going to give herself a concussion because she self harms and we cannot stop it every time, we're sleep deprived, no sex life, our brains are fried from all the screaming and constant noise. We argue and are short tempered with each other. We are empty shells of what we used to be. Imagine having a monkey on your back 24/7 that just screamed and hit you. It breaks a person.

We've been in weekly therapy for years and I probably break down at least once a month during a session.

I never ever thought we'd have a special needs kid. There's no family history, and like I said I took amazing care of myself while pregnant. She was planned, my husband and I waited until we were financially stable to have her, we did everything right. We wanted more children but now have decided not to have any more because it would be too much stress. I mourn what could have been. I wonder all the time how my life would be if she was a typical kid.

If you want to put yourself in the headspace of a parent who has a profoundly special needs child, watch the movie "Vivarium." It's about a couple who get stuck in this weird suburb that they cannot escape and are forced to raise this strange alien child-like being until they die of exhaustion. It's an odd, science fiction alien/monster type of movie that's meant to be pure fantasy but for me it was the realist movie I have ever watched.

But even after all of that, I still love her so much and won't put her in a care center or in foster care (I'd be worried sick that she was being neglected or abused). When she's an adult we're either going to turn our basement into a living space for her and hire an aid to help her or we'll put her in an adult special needs home and visit her frequently to make sure she is okay. I just hate that it has to be this way. None of us deserved this life.

If you see parents with special needs kids out at the store or mall or wherever, please just be patient and kind.

floralsquid Report

Final score:

453points

POST

Amanda-Joy Veness 2 years ago

Thank you for sharing that. My younger sister also has this form of Autism and I saw the toll that took on my parents, our family, and mental health. It’s hell. Yes, we love them, but we will always feel robbed of what could have been. Thankfully she lives in a wonderful community group home near me and has fantastic staff. She is happy and thrives on the routine they can provide her.

207points

To gain some insight on what it is like to be childfree, we reached out to the women behind The Childfree Girls Podcast. When asked if they think there’s a societal pressure to have kids, they told us, “Absolutely. Look at the US's new abortion laws. Look at how people are being scrutinized or questioned over miscarriages. Real life is turning out to be a little too much like Kristen Tsetsi's post-Roe v Wade novel The Age of the Child, in which grocery store herb/spices and supplements with a chance of affecting a pregnancy are rationed. When people can be forced to carry pregnancies they don't want to carry or that can even kill them, and when - as is happening in the US - people can't get the medication they need because there's a remote risk of those medications being a danger to a pregnancy, yes. There's still too much pressure to have children.”

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I was conceived to replace a baby boy that died. My mom was so disappointed I was a girl, she forgot my name for a while, and now I have 2 middle names. I had a brother growing up who was favored by both my parents, but he really was amazing. He was my favorite too. He died 5 years ago in a motorcycle wreck, and I’m the least favorite (my mom admitted this freely), also I am the last remaining child. *** Also, I don’t care that my parents are disappointed that I was the one that survived. I’ve made myself who I want to be. I only talk to my dad occasionally, and my mom became an alcoholic, because 2 of her kids died. I don’t talk to her. Shrug. My life is separated from theirs, and I encourage other people to cut off the cancerous people, even if it’s your parents. It’s liberating.

Coloradorawks , Dương Nhân Report

Final score:

414points

POST

flutterbyy 2 years ago

Wtf that's so messed up. So glad OP is in a good place now.

133points

We also asked the ladies what being childree means to them. “Being childfree means the same thing to us that being a parent means to those who truly want to raise children for the rest of their lives. Having a child would be every bit as devastating to us as not being able to have a child would be to someone who'd only ever dreamed of being a parent.”

“As for what went into our choices, they vary from an innate lack of desire to a combination of that and an instinct to avoid inviting hardships onto a new person. We might also (respectfully) argue that it's more interesting to know what goes into someone's choice to have a child, as that choice is the one that completely changes the direction of a life (while creating an entirely new one).”

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted Ex girlfriend baby trapped me. She stopped taking her birth control and didn't tell me. Then cheated on me while pregnant. (She was, and still is a s**tty person) At that point I wanted nothing to do with her and was not prepared to be a father. I was young and dumb and still learning who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. She gave me the option to walk away and never see the kid again. I thought about it but couldn't bring myself to, knowing my kid was out there was going to weigh heavily on my conscience.

It was difficult at times. While my friends were studying, partying, travelling I was working and learning to be a father. I didn't want this kid but here I was and I was going to make the best of the situation.

My daughter is 13 now and I have full custody. Her mother is a piece of s**t and my daughter is old enough to know the difference. She's with me now and I couldn't be happier. My daughter is a driving force in my life. I need to be responsible, I need to be accountable, I need to be financially successful. It keeps me going forward and has really made the man I am today. Having a kid when you're barely 20 has ways of making or breaking someone. My daughter was the child I didn't want but ended up being what I needed.

phantaxtic , Tatiana Syrikova Report

Final score:

373points

POST

Seabeast 2 years ago

Glad this worked out in the end, but he could have used a condom. I have little sympathy for men who refuse to do any part in preventing a pregnancy and then complain that they were "trapped".

67points

Next, we asked if there are any misconceptions about a childfree lifestyle that they would like to dispel. “Oh, yes! And many of those misconceptions will be discussed at this year's annual virtual Childfree Convention over the weekend of July 30/31. The misconceptions go deeper than the surface-level observations like ‘childfree people are selfish’ or ‘childfree people don't want to grow up’ (which we also discuss in recent episodes of Childfree Girls), and that's why convention co-founder and childfree advocate LeNora Faye is so deeply committed to the event and why Childfree Coach Isabel Firecracker, among many others (to include a woman who'd once struggled with infertility), will be panelists.”

“However, to choose the most prevalent one, it's the myth that we're selfish for not having the children others want us to have. What's selfish is to expect others to live as you want them to. Even some childfree people will refer to themselves as 'selfish' for not having children, but they shouldn't. Stabbing yourself in the eye might make someone else happy, but you're not selfish for not doing it.”

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I can only speak on my experience.
I had got pregnant for my neglect in not taking my birth control properly. I did NOT want a child, but I could not bring myself to abort either. Family pressure, I'll just say that.
When she was born, I felt like I had post partum depression (not diagnosed medically). I didn't want to be around her, feed her, change her, be with her. But....I did it anyway. My motherly instincts kicked in and I did all I could to keep her comfy and happy.
There were many times of regret and hopelessness that this little girl had flipped my world upside down and I was very unhappy with the way my life was going because of her.
Suddnely, she started talking. She soon started walking. She started eating on her own. She started dancing, singing, and playing. She went to kindergarten. She started having a sense of style. She played video games with me. She excelled in school. She understands meme culture without me having to explain it. She's beautiful and smart and I wouldn't change her for the world.
Sure, there are still selfish moments where I would like to escape and be on my own and do my own thing. But more and more, I find myself thinking, "This might be more fun if my kid was with me."

Madmadamedrea , pexels Report

Final score:

304points

POST

Bobby 2 years ago

As someone who 100% wanted kids, don't feel bad about the times you question it. We all have them but apparently talking about it is wrong?

152points

Lastly, the Childfree Girls added, “Thank you for raising and exploring this issue and giving a voice to a demographic that's generally happy to simply live and let live, but that is for some reason increasingly under scrutiny, if not attack. And to those who make the leap to, ‘But what if everyone in the world stops having children!?’, relax. It'll never happen.”

If you’re interested in hearing more of what these ladies have to say, be sure to check out their podcast The Childfree Girls right here.

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted When my daughter was a year and a half old I unexpectedly got pregnant a second time (it was unexpected because I have pretty substantial infertility issues). I was not ready. I was exhausted as s**t from my daughter being a typical toddler and a dog we rescued that needed constant emotional coddling. And hindsight makes it easier to see my depression was wildly out of control but I didn't realize it because my panic attacks were not. I would lay awake at night, in pain, wanting to vomit from heartburn, exhausted because my daughter decided sleeping through the night was no longer a thing and would think "ya know... if I miscarried I'd probably feel relieved" and other things along those lines. And this went on for the whole pregnancy.... right up until 32 weeks when I went into labor... and my son was dead. Gone for at least three days before I went into labor. Despite all the expected mental anguish and trauma, for just *one single moment* when we were driving home with empty arms and an empty car seat, I felt *relieved*. I have yet to forgive myself for that.

Maeberry2007 , freestocks Report

Final score:

252points

POST

Barbara Maloney 2 years ago

Hon forgive yourself and love the family you have. You did not cause the death of your child. Love and hugs

249points

madeofstarlight , Ksenia Chernaya Report

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I have kids and I wanted them. But, I was an unwanted kid. My mom and non-bio dad married when I was young. He raised me, but I never felt love from him at all. He married her to get her out of a bad situation. I thought he didn’t want kids, but when I was about 5/6, my sister was born. He wanted kids. He just didn’t want me. I saw how different he was with her, and his other kids they had later. Those who have kids that you don’t want—they’re aware on some level.

Final score:

235points

POST

Winter 2 years ago

Yes, this hurts. My stepmother never treated me well, growing up. My half-sisters, from the marriage between my step-mother and father, always got treated so much better. It's still like that, in fact. My half-sister's kids get treated better than my son does by my dad and stepmom, too.

80points

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I was a nanny for a lady who really didn't want children but needed up having 5 because she loved her husband. Each of her pregnancies her medical condition go worse, with her youngest she had to be in the hospital for two months because she had so many kidney stones. Part of her condition is she produces kidney stones at a crazy rate, and they are rare stones that have a hook on them. Her kidneys are also more like a sponge looking organ than kidney, that aren't functioning over 25%. She would give her life for those kids even though she never wanted them. S**tty part, when the youngest was 2, her health was declining alot. And her husband, left her for a chick he just met because, and I quote "I'm sick of you being sick". I miss those kids so much and I miss her. She got full custody and has even better insurance now that her ex left her. And he pays huge in child support and alimony every month.

RedHearts21 , Jimmy Conover Report

Final score:

199points

POST

Linda Lee 2 years ago

I hope Karma bites him in the azz.

157points

What goes into some people's choice to not have kids is that they can be a massive financial burden. Paying for diapers, clothes, food, backpacks, toys, extracurricular activities, doctors appointments, vacations, and essentially everything else children could ever need can be overwhelming. According to recent data, the average family in the US will spend $272,049 on a child before they turn 18. This does not include higher education, but it does include housing and food, which come out to be the largest expenses. For people who are already struggling to make ends meet, or who have no intentions of saving up any time soon, the idea of having kids can be daunting. Some choose not to jump headfirst into financial stress and opt to avoid kids altogether. If there is a will, there’s a way. But if there is not a strong enough will to have kids and make enough money to provide for them, don’t feel pressured to have them at all.

#10

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted My mom just forgot we existed and had another baby to keep her happy. I have 10 siblings

JoshPum , pexels Report

Final score:

180points

POST

Kim Shannon 2 years ago

I know someone who comes from a family of 18 kids. Their mom would have a baby and make the younger kids take care of it, while she concentrated on getting pregnant again.

105points

#11

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted Awful. I had my son at 18. I wish I’d never had him. He’s all grown up now, but resents me for not giving him the childhood he wanted. I couldn’t afford the childhood he wanted- I was working over 80 hours a week to keep food on the table.

I was convinced to have and raise my son by my family and ex-husband. There are days when I break down thinking of the life I should have had. I was supposed to go to college. I was supposed to move out of my hometown, to carve out a place for myself in the world.

Instead, I became a mom.

And I still hate it.

anon , pexels Report

Final score:

174points

POST

33Possums 2 years ago

The sad truth is that some people are not suited to be a parent, at least at some point in their lives. You were not ready and your resentment probably has fueled his resentment. It was unfair of your family to pressure you into keeping this child. Hopefully he will mature and at least realize what you were up against.

85points

#12

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted My girlfriend had a 2 year old when I met her. He’s 5 now.

I didn’t plan to have kids, but I love her. I’m pretty much used to it, I teach him stuff and he’s attached to my hip when he’s here (joint custody with the father) but ideally I’d have preferred to not have a kid around.

I can deal though. He can be a little s**thead sometimes lmao. Also it’s weird disciplining someone else’s kid so I’m just getting there, I can see the betrayal in his eyes, I’m supposed to be like the fun uncle, getting on to him is weird.

Never really said that out loud this is liberating

Dewy_Wanna_Go_There , pexels Report

Final score:

169points

POST

Bobby 2 years ago

My boys call me bobby. That's OK. Dad is still in the picture(ish) but boy when I hear them say to their friends "sorry my dad said I have to come in for dinner"... the feels there

113points

MassiveConflict2465 Report

Despite some parents knowing that they never wanted kids, sometimes they end up with them anyway. Some of these people say that their lives are completely changed after holding their baby in their arms, and they boast that they could never imagine their life going in a different direction. But for others, they might still be having second thoughts even after the child is born. According to a study of 2,500 Polish parents, 13.6% of participants between the ages of 18 and 40 admitted that they regret having kids. The study also found that the group who said they regret having children tended to have poorer physical and mental health than those who did not regret starting a family. Reasons for regretting the choice to have kids varied, from having an identity crisis to feeling burnt out to having financial struggles.

#13

My ex husband was emotionally abusive and, if I’m being completely honest with myself, forced me into getting pregnant 3 months after going into labor and losing our daughter at 20 weeks.

I wasn’t ready and I hadn’t really had a chance to grieve - he quit his job 3 days into my required maternity leave, so I had to go back to work as soon as physically possible.

Our son was 13 weeks early, spent two months in the nicu and cost over a million dollars in his first year. Thank goodness for good insurance! Now my son is almost 7, his “father” hasn’t been in the picture for years, and until recently, I was doing it all on my own.

My son showed incredible strength to grow big enough to breath on his own and come home, so I’ve made it my mission to give him a great life and make sure he never knows that I didn’t want to be a parent after my daughter died.

Final score:

145points

POST

eff the haters 2 years ago

That's a good example of an asshøle father right there

87points

#14

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I never wanted to be a mom. No part of me has ever been maternal in any way. I have a kid that I love more than anyone in the world. But I’m ready for her to become a young adult. I enjoy being alone and doing what I want, when I want. She is extremely attached to me and it’s unbearable most of the time. But again, I love her and don’t regret my decision to have her.

sasshley_ , pexels Report

Final score:

129points

POST

Falicity Humdinger 2 years ago

Sadly with the new laws in America, stories like this will become common place. I can only try to close my mind to thought of the increase in child abuse and alcoholism among parents, drug misuse, children bearing children! Let me get this right if a 12 year old child/girl is raped, she not only faces this trauma, but then has to go through pregnancy, birth and raising a child as a child? Please someone correct me on this! As sickening as it is to suggest or think it, what if she's raped by her father, is the child then forced to have an inbred child? Please, PLEASE someone tell me there are exceptions to this bill!

91points

#15

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I’m speaking from personal experience with my son and I, and this may be a long one.

I never wanted to have kids. It seemed like way to much responsibility for someone like me. I work, I pay bills, I am responsible, but I can only handle so much responsibility. I felt like kids would push me over that line where happiness would disappear, and to be honest, I was right. It did in fact disappear.

My son was born a little over a year ago. He wasn’t planned. My Wife and I welcomed him into our lives with open arms. We loved and cared for him (and still do) and we are trying our best to provide him with a great life. But for me, doing everything I can to provide him with a great life is, in essence, sucking my soul out of me.

As time went on, and as it goes on, I become more and more depressed, anxious, and phobic about things in life that I used to seemingly love. I’ve went from this super cheery and outgoing individual to a husk of what I was. But my son doesn’t know how I feel. When he’s in the room, everything is well. It isn’t fair to him that I take out my personal demons on him.

I love him so much I can’t explain it in words. He’s a hilarious little kid, he’s adorable and incredibly smart, but the responsibility of him is tearing me apart. I hope as he grows older and starts to become more independent, I’ll start to feel better, but for now it’s like the weight of the world on me.

frizzhf , Kelly Sikkema Report

Final score:

123points

POST

Connie Martin 2 years ago

Sounds like a situation counseling would help. A lot

112points

While it can be assumed that most parents do not regret their decision to have kids, bringing up the fact that some do is a valuable conversation worth having. It is so important for young people to understand what they are getting themselves into before they decide to have kids, from the physical aspect for women to the financial and social aspects to the variables that are out of a parent’s control like the possibility of having twins or a child with mental or physical disabilities. One mother candidly opened up about her experience to Maclean’s, explaining that she never wanted kids but was pressured to have them for her husband. After the couple eventually separated due to the strains of parenthood, the mother says that their life is not easy. “Our child has two homes and I’m still doing 90 per cent of it on my own.”

#16

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted You hate them, and you hate yourself for hating them.

Whalesftw123 , pexels Report

Final score:

118points

POST

Labellesouris 2 years ago

Oh jeez, I am so sad that you and your kids are in that place! You need to find another way for them to grow up or all of you will be damaged beyond measure when they are ready to be grown folks

53points

#17

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted Its like having some guests at your house that never never get around to leave for years, but you must take care of them to avoid getting into trouble and judged by others.

deepstatetraitor , pexels Report

Final score:

111points

POST

Emerald Ocean 2 years ago

I’m sorry. I can’t believe that this country is going to force more to be in your situation!

45points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#18

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted Like having a child you want to get rid of? Or having a child when it wasn't planned? My son, was not planned, his mom wanted to trap me, and get that sweet child support. She lied about being on the pill. She cheated on me when pregnant, I left her. I was present for my son's birth in fact I brought him into the world because the OB left the room for an emergency, and wasn't available. He came out alarmingly quick once it all happened. Tried to reconcile, but my ex kept cheating. We split for good before he was one, my son lived with me. We went to court, the court sided with me, but she still hounded me with unfounded complaints whether to children's aid or other bodies, trying to claim my son on taxes etc. So what's it like? Well my life was effectively ruined, I left university, worked sheet metal full time, until an accident, now I practice law, after going back to school. It's extremely tough, and I wonder if my experience is different because I am sole support father, we don't have access to the same resources as single mothers do, and often the resources we can access, is a fight and a half to get them. So, it's hard, it's tough, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Just because my son wasn't planned, and just because I sacrificed an awful lot for him, doesn't change that I love him more than anything in the world, and it doesn't change that I would do it all over again just to have him in my life. He is the kindest sweetest most sincere young man you could ever hope for. So, I don't think matters if you wanted to have children or not, I guess you either love them or you don't.

anon , Pavel Danilyuk Report

Final score:

110points

POST

anarkzie 2 years ago

It's nice that one of these stories had a positive ending.

41points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

What many mothers who regret having children want people to understand is that they are not neglectful or abusive parents, they just wish that they did not always need to put their children first. Lola Augustine Brown writes in Today’s Parent, “I am not a monster. In fact, I think I’m a kick-ass mom. But what I’m struggling with is that it feels like their amazing life comes at the expense of my own.” She explains that mothers must have a safe place or community to express these feelings, because the societal expectation is that having children is the pinnacle of any woman’s life.

#19

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted This is a story of a very close friend of mine, on a bit different note, but I guess it could fit, in some light. He was abused as a kid (violence and mentally, by both parents), and was scared of ever even getting close to kids, in a fear he would hurt them in some way. He is generally a really meek, but caring person, like a total opposite of what he got at home - this was his just coping mechanism, as kids literally clung to him. Then he met a loving woman and they married. She slowly warmed him up to being around younglings (it helped she works in preschool/daycare), and finally they (both) decided it's okay to go.

Two attempts (sadly) and little over year later he was holding small baby in his arms - his eyes, his hair, her face, her smile.

He told me, during the pregnancy he was super happy, and did everything he could for his wife and future junior. He started loving it truly, and when he felt it kicking, he was internally overflowed with happiness, that a small human was growing there, and he, or she will have dreams, laughs and hurdles. Yet, standing there, he felt nothing. Like no spark, no love, no happiness, no resentment, no joy, nothing. He was holding small, hot, moving piece of meat *which* he had absolutely no attachment to. It crushed him. Talk with wife crushed him even more. He did everything he could to care for her in hope he will grow to love... but it never came. As soon as time allowed, he went into therapy, and after three years heard that sometimes... this just happens.

His daughter is now 6, is healthy and happy, as far as I can tell, but I heard my share of his pain. He feels inferior as a human, for deceiving his daughter, and he powers trough it by sheer willpower and effort. 'If I can't love her, at least I will still try to give her something I couldn't have - caring home'. He told me exactly once, that he really, really regrets agreeing to have a kid, but I could feel his shame.

His wife is wonderful person enough to accept him, like this. She told us (my fiance is more of her support than I am), she wanted more kids, but she is really afraid to put more on him. Raising one will be enough of a challenge for them, that's for sure. I know he will keep all his promises and words, but it already takes a toll on him.

Trudar , Kelly Sikkema Report

Final score:

105points

POST

Seabeast 2 years ago

A caring home is not nothing. There are completely inadequate neglectful parents who love their children but don't give them the basic necessities of life.

84points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#20

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted I helped raise my ex's 4 yr old until she was about 6 or 7. I never got used to it. Yes I loved her very much and would do anything for her. I just couldn't deal with the crying and lack of sleep and being disobedient. Everytime I wanted to do something like play a game, go the bathroom or have a conversation with her mom she always butted in. Also she was an only child and always wanted me to play dolls with her or something. I just couldn't handle someone needing my attention like that all the time. Call me selfish. I went from being single for years to being daddy. I just realized I cant do it.

Princessleiasperiod , Anete Lusina Report

Final score:

104points

POST

flutterbyy 2 years ago

Nothing selfish about wanting some time for yourself.

53points

#21

I'm not seeing a lot of first hand responses, so I'll jump on the grenade.

I have two sons who (despite loving them very much and wanting the best for them) my life would be much better if I hadn't had them. My whole life growing up I expressed doubts that I wanted kids, because kids freak me out. Everyone always said that it would be different when it's your own kids. I'm sure for some people it is, but for me it's not.

I think I have some kind of phobia of kids. I'm on the autism spectrum (as is my oldest son), and I hate that I helped bring two people into this world that I can't be there for. I wanted to be a good father, and all things considered I'm still not terrible, but I don't enjoy time with my kids the way I should.

My wife and I separated when our boys were still young due to other issues in our relationship, she has since remarried to a great guy who is wonderful with our boys. She moved about 5 hours away but I still visit them on big holidays and their birthdays. I pay my child support without fuss. I'm happy knowing my boys are happy, but it's a weight taken off my shoulders that I'm not having to care for them, because I just can't.

If there was a moral to this story I would say that if you think you might not be able to handle kids it's perfectly okay to not have them. But make sure that's known early in the relationship. Don't expect your partner to change because they'll be expecting you to change as well, and one if not both of you will end up unhappy. The bonus moral is never trust someone who wants to use the rhythm method of birth control.

ChameleonSting Report

Final score:

90points

POST

Bubs623 2 years ago

The other - better- moral of all these stories is take care of your own, personal birth control, whatever that may look like or be. And especially in the good old USA right now and the current overturning of Roe. Even though it's still legal in many states, the most conservative states are Even showing signs of blocking access to birth control for women. It's disgusting, distressing and wrong.

75points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

A friend of Lola’s notes that she sometimes feels jealous of her childfree friends who can take spontaneous vacations or head off to a painting retreat whenever they like. “It’s not regret. It is something deeper, like a realization that there aren’t enough hours in the day for me to care for them and myself, without some things falling off the to-do list—and that, all too often, the thing that falls off the list is me.” The funny thing is that people often assume that mothers are neglecting their children if they regret having them, but what seems to be more likely is that the mothers neglect caring for themselves. Even if they don't feel particularly maternal, most mothers find a way to pour everything they have into their kids.

#22

So, I married a man with two kids and we have a daughter together. Totally thought I had it in me to be a stepmom. To make it worse, one kid was a baby when we got together and so I am more bonded to him and the other one drives me nuts. I have thought about getting divorced multiple times over it but when it’s me, my husband, and our daughter it is so nice. I dread when they come and can’t wait until they leave. I try to treat them well because it’s definitely not their fault. I wouldn’t have done if I would have known how ill-equipped I would be. I am just so annoyed all the time. I know I sound like the typical evil stepmom and I wish I didn’t. There’s just no affection, especially for the oldest. Thanks for letting me vent this here because I feel like nobody understands.

josies-on-a-vacation Report

Final score:

90points

POST

Genny McD 2 years ago

My first husband had a4 year old daughter when I married him. I didn't have kids yet. I really really wanted kids, for years at this point, and thought being a step mom would be the best thing in earth since I didn't have my own kids yet. Although most of the time we had a great relationship, my step daughter often yelled at me and told me how much she hated me (typical teenage stuff I guess). I ended up having 2 sons with my husband. Every time there was a conflict with me and our daughter (my step daughter) he always stuffed with her and told me that I was being mean to her because she wasn't mine, which wasn't true at all. I always wanted a daughter, and to this day she was the only daughter I had. Me And her dad divorced when she was 13. We were both in the military and he was gone like 80% of the time, so I was her primary parent most of the time (her biological mom never wanted anything to do with her). After we divorced, my ex never let me see her or talk to her again. The next time I saw her was at her wedding when she was 25. She was so beautiful. Sorry to go off on that tangent, the point I was trying to make is, I wanted to be a step mom, but there were times when I wished that I hadn't married him bc he did not sorry me at all with raising her.

33points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#23

Love isn’t a light switch that you suddenly feel. Love is a process. It takes time and work. He’s doing that work.

Media and hype around kids is built up to stupid levels and leaves many parents with feelings of inadequacy. Lots of parents (especially Dads) struggle with this. Pregnant mothers have a bit more time to come to terms with the fact they have a child, and hormones to back it up. It often doesn’t feel “real” for dads many parents until months or sometimes even a couple years after their kid is born.

Sometimes you just need to get out of your head and stop worrying about what you’re “supposed” to feel. Take care of your child. Make them feel loved. That’s all that you need to do.

reddit Report

Final score:

83points

POST

Delta Dawn 2 years ago

I did feel immediate love with my first, but with my second, who was just as wanted and planned as the first, it took several months to kick in. There’s no one right way to feel.

29points

#24

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted It set the tone for the rest of my life, one of those hindsight is 20/20 things. I honestly believe if I'd never had a kid, particularly as young and alone as I was in a very socially backwards area, I'd have made a lot more of myself. I know that could be taken as self-rationalization for lack of trying and failures. But I also know how I felt, how I have never bonded with my kid, and how both our lives could have been a lot better had I either waited to have her, or let another couple adopt her like I wanted but was forced out of the choice.

anon , RODNAE Productions Report

Final score:

78points

POST

SarahBee 2 years ago

I don't understand families that force you to keep a child. I don't think that there's any shame in saying "I'm just not ready for this." The people who forced you to keep her should have been co-parenting with you.

51points

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

See Also on Bored Panda

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

Lola writes that it is important for parents to find a way to cope with their conflicted feelings about parenting. You cannot resent your children or take it out on them, but as many parents note, it does get easier as they get older. The more self-sufficient kids become, the more their parents can take care of themselves too. Another friend of Lola’s says, “Now that they are all at school, I’m coming out of it, but it has been 10 years of me putting everyone’s needs first. Now it’s my turn, and it feels good.” She explained that she finally has time to dedicate to her art, which is a much needed escape and healthy outlet.

#25

I've honestly thought about this question before. My son (14months M) was planned, and he is incredible, absolutely a light in our lives. On the other hand, I was super ill the entire pregnancy, depressed and struggling up until a few months ago. Now, this was made worse by two moves (military), and covid of course, but I never ever want to do this again. Not quite the same, but similar.

We get so much pressure on "the next kid" from friends and family, and EVERYONE assumes you'll have more. I absolutely am one and done, at least biologically. I did not enjoy the baby days, and now that he's a toddler, he's amazing. I know two would just be above my capacity, and I would regret having another.

That being said, my husband and I are both really drawn to fostering, and will likely do so when we are at our final posting location and our kid is a bit older.

jawsmine Report

Final score:

77points

POST

Cori 2 years ago

Fostering is the perfect answer. I'm in the same boat. I have 2 kids I gave birth to. I did not enjoy being pregnant and having another newborn in the house sounds like a nightmare. Despite this, the baby fever is still super real so I'm going to apply to be a foster parent for the babies-who-sleep-through-the-night to toddler range. It's not the age range with the greatest need, but it's what our little family can handle. The world needs all the decent foster parents it can get.

30points

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

See Also on Bored Panda

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

#26

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted My sister got pregnant by a total piece of s**t she knew for 3 months.

Nephew born, he split. Loves her son, but not enough to take care of him. She moved in with my parents and passed all parenting duties to them.

It's obvious she resents him. She screams at him over little things. Everyone is miserable.

dtorre , Keira Burton Report

Final score:

74points

POST

Valerie Heath-Harrison 2 years ago

That's so sad. Poor kid.

60points

Tornado_Of_Benjamins Report

#27

I think this is what happened with my dad. Luckily "fake it til you make it" seems to work well enough. Now that I'm an independent adult, he has expressed that "of course you're my kid, but honestly I just enjoy hanging out with you". I can respect that even if he didn't feel ~love~ he helped me grow and supports me. And if a friendship-level of respect is all he can muster, I know that's not my fault. I think your friend and his kid will probably be ok.

Final score:

74points

POST

Mosheh Wolf 2 years ago

That is love. For some people it feels different or manifests itself differently.

13points

Whether or not you decide to have children, remember to be empathetic to every situation. People who don't have kids may have desperately wanted them but were unable to for various reasons, while those who have them might be jealous of their childfree friends. This list opens up a sensitive conversation, as parents have shared extremely vulnerable stories, but it is an eye-opening reminder that you never know what anyone else is going through. Let us know in the comments if these stories brought up any personal stories for you; we would love to hear what influenced your decision whether or not you wanted to have kids, or how you are leaning if you're still undecided.

#28

My husband and I have been raising my niece for 3.5 years. We also had my teenage nephew for a year before we had her, but growing up with my sister as a mom had done more damage to him than we could handle. My niece is almost 16 now. I'm 29 and I feel like I gave up my fun and careless years to raise my sister's kids. I've always dreamed of having my own children and now that I'm struggling to conceive I can't help but feel resentful that I'm raising one of my junkie sister's 6 healthy children.
Overall my niece is a good kid. I love her and I want her to do well in life, but she doesn't feel like she's our kid and she doesn't think of us when she thinks about who her parents are. She experienced a lot of trauma while living with my sister and it's a lot to handle. She was cutting for awhile and recently admitted to bulimia and has had suicidal thoughts. Her counselor keeps advising us to do more stuff with her and spend more time with her to pull her out of her dark moods. I feel like my mental energy is already 90% devoted to her and the thought of giving up even more of the 10% reserved for me and my husband is incredibly daunting.
It doesn't help that I grew up in a fairly dysfunctional household and my niece is one of my biggest triggers that brings those issues back up for me. I was just starting therapy to work on my past traumas when my niece started having a bunch of issues so all of my sessions became about managing her issues instead of dealing with my own. All I wanted when I was her age was somebody to save me from the dysfunction I was growing up in. I feel like I'm giving her exactly what I wanted as a teen but it's not enough for her and she doesn't appreciate it.
I've also witnessed all of my siblings and my nephew go totally off the rails and into addiction and bad life choices at 15/16 years old, so my niece developing a bunch of issues at this age triggered the hell out of me and made me feel like I was fighting against her inevitable downfall. Add that in with my complicated relationship with my sister and the resentment I feel towards her for placing this burden on me, the family I have to maintain contact with so that I'm not keeping my niece from them, and the fact that I'm not my niece's legal guardian so every medical thing is a huge hassle and it's all just too much.
I feel trapped and like I'm sacrificing my own future children on the slim chance that my niece might overcome my family's generational dysfunction.

V4ult_G1rl Report

Final score:

63points

POST

Kim Lorton 2 years ago

You are not an evil human being, if you do not want to take care of your sisters' kids. Say no, **ck anyone that tells you, you "have to" and go live your life. Get therapy and take care of yourself. Your sister needs to get help and your niece does too, more help than you can give her. Turn her over to the court and foster system and they can place her where she will get the help and support she needs. If your sister gave her to you to raise, bit never made you the legal guardian, then she is guilty of neglect. Not You. Get your sister away from her and You, and do not let ANYONE tell you you are bad. If they want to shame you, give the kid to them. They feel guilty for not doing it, and are making you the guilt scape goat. Do not let them.

6points

Reddidnothingwrong Report

#29

I am really not proud to share this, but I went through a period of bad drug addiction resulting from mental illness and an abusive relationship (with the dad) so I actually had a period of time where I didn't want my children. Not as in I didn't want them to exist, I do and always have loved them, but I didn't want them WITH me basically because I knew that I was incapable of taking care of any of us so I was constantly overwhelmed, exhausted, and just wanted everything to stop. It was the worst and most heartbreaking period of my life because they deserved so much better and I knew it but I couldn't give that to them and every time they showed me any kind of affection I just wanted to break down because I didn't feel like I deserved it and didn't really know how to react.

I'm happy to say that I am now getting my s**t together and we have a good relationship (I'm extremely grateful that they're still young and have no memories of the Bad Times.) At any rate, the problem was with me, not them, and I have no respect for any parent who sees it otherwise.

EDIT: Thanks so much to everyone who replied (and gave awards! Wow!) I really wasn't sure what kind of reaction this was going to get but everyone has been really sweet and supportive so I just wanted to let y'all know I appreciate it. :)

Final score:

56points

POST

SarahBee 2 years ago

I hope that therapy is part of your getting it together. You deserve every bit of love that is sent your way!

16points

#30

"Ex-Girlfriend Baby-Trapped Me": 30 Parents Get Real About What It's Like To Raise Children They Never Wanted My kids are wanted by me, but not by their other parent. It's been over a year since any contact.

I'm watching them grow in a world that isn't made for them in many ways (they both have disabilities) and for their own parent to abandon them is the saddest thing I've ever seen. My older kiddo is autistic which is almost a blessing because older kiddo never had a decent connection with the other parent, and is very black and white with thinking. Younger kiddo doesn't remember the other parent, but isn't autistic (congenital physical disabilities) and I'm sure will ask harder questions than my autistic kiddo has.

legocitiez , Alexander Dummer Report

Final score:

53points

POST

Persephone 2 years ago

Better for them to be away from a toxic parent.

14points

Note: this post originally had 41 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

Howdy, I'm Adelaide! I'm originally from Texas, but after graduating from university with an acting degree, I relocated to sunny Los Angeles for a while. I then got a serious bite from the travel bug and found myself moving to Sweden and England before settling in Lithuania about two years ago. I'm passionate about animal welfare, sustainability and eating delicious food. But as you can see, I cover a wide range of topics including drama, internet trends and hilarious memes. I can easily be won over with a Seinfeld reference, vegan pastry or glass of fresh cold brew. And during my free time, I can usually be seen strolling through a park, playing tennis or baking something tasty.

Read less »

Rasa is a photo editor at Bored Panda, they have a college degree in photography and are currently studying sewing. Ever since childhood Rasa was interested in visual arts, including painting, photography, knitting and so on. When not at work or studying they like to knitting, cooking and spending quality time with their cats.

Read less »

I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

Pamela24 2 years ago

These stories are one of the many reasons why abortion should be legal. Children who are born despite not being wanted hurt so much. The pro-birth folks often feel like everyone is so grateful for being alive but so many people aren't. Because why would you if your life has been full of suffering ever since you were born?

62points

CatGirl 2 years ago

I'm sorry someone downvoted you for saying this - it's the absolute truth and you should keep saying it LOUD!!

17points

Jerry Mathers 2 years ago

Here's the rub. Unwanted kids, neglected kids, abused kids all grow up knowing it and striking back against society. Do not fall for the "tough on crime" BS that's coming when the fallout from this disaster starts bearing fruit. This decision is a huge disaster for this country. The misery it will create for society is huge. If you get pregnant and don't want it and want to get an abortion, please find a way to do so. Don't post about it. Just do it. And if someone is threatening to sue you or tell, do post about. Do give names, addresses and numbers. Let those that want to cause misery be the recipient of it. Let them experience hell. Let's keep 'em so busy barely keeping their heads above water they don't have time to worry about others. It's time to show them how fun it is to have people interfere with their lives.

2points

John Clay 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

similarly 2 years ago

This hits hard. I'm 51. I spent the first half of my life being unwelcome and unwanted. I spent the last half of my life being "necessary" and "useful" because I clean and pay the bills. I don't know what it feels like to be welcome and wanted.

26points

Rens 2 years ago

I can definitely relate to this. I had such low self-esteem and thought so little of myself that I thought the only way that people would keep me around is if I made myself indispensable. All that happened is everybody just took whatever they wanted from me and left me with nothing. I took me a long time a lifetime really to become the person I am now (50) and no one will ever take advantage of me again. Know your own worth and root your self-esteem into your character as a human being. I'm finally in a situation where I feel welcome and wanted, appreciated and respected x

6points

MoMcB 2 years ago

I feel like this a lot. It's hard.

2points

Squee She 2 years ago

Hey, you're wanted by me. I see you. You struggle, and I care, and I send internet love 💜

0points

Cathy Hurd 2 years ago

My mother didn't want kids until we were old enough to take care of her. Then we were her best friends. Her mantra while we were growing up "I should have raised dogs instead"

0points

FreshGanesh 2 years ago

As a gay guy I never imagined having kids. Into my 20’s, adoption wasn’t an option. Kids never entered into the equation. At 28, my partner & I were doing well and planned to surrogate with a close lesbian couple. We ended up buying a typical SF, 3-flat building, with the women owning one, us another & a random partner the third. I got cold feet. Realized I either wasn’t ready or maybe I was too self-involved to be ready. I left my relationship/job/life and travelled for 3+ years. I stayed close to the three of them and their 3 kids, but it took some time to forgive & heal from me bailing. At 37, I found my person when I very much wasn’t looking. We were close to a single mom & her 3yo. She got sick, so ended up moving them in with us so I/we could care for both of them until she passed. We hadn’t any plans for kids and throughout this time thought of ourselves as the cool gunkles. We became dads to a 4yo who had no other family. He’s almost 9. He is my greatest joy & pleasure. Ever!

25points

JMil 2 years ago

This is beautiful. I'm so happy for you and SO.

5points

Load More Comments

POST

Pamela24 2 years ago

62points

CatGirl 2 years ago

I'm sorry someone downvoted you for saying this - it's the absolute truth and you should keep saying it LOUD!!

17points

Jerry Mathers 2 years ago

2points

John Clay 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

similarly 2 years ago

26points

Rens 2 years ago

6points