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People Share The Pettiest Reasons For Why They Are Childfree, Here Are The 40 Best Ones
The debate over having or not having kids has raged for a long time, but regardless of where one stands, there is a growing child-free movement. But one netizen was curious to hear about the less common arguments for people choosing to not have children, so they asked the internet “What is your pettiest reason for not wanting kids?”
From comical to sincere, people online share their thoughts. So get comfortable as you scroll through, be sure to upvote your favorite posts and, if you are so inclined, share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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#1
I like money, silence and a tidy house.
Diana Pahule 1 year ago
I'm not particular about tidy, or I wasn't before the little plague vectors started touching everything with their unwashed sticky fingers.
#2
I like to be alone.
devotedtodreams 1 year ago
Me too. After a long day at work, coming home to my apartment where no one else lives but me is such a beautiful thing, perfect for recharging those social batteries :)
#3
I take pride in proving wrong every one that said I'd change my mind
devotedtodreams 1 year ago
This applies to me because I've known since my early teens that I didn't want kids. The "you'll change your mind" argument was made often, but I was never convinced because I knew with all my heart and soul it wasn't what I wanted. Hell, back in university/college (never sure which one's correct), a classmate said he'd make a bet that in 10 years, I'd be a mother. I took that bet with a s**t-eating grin because it's an easy win. Haven't seen him since, but I'm still winning!
#6
My cat would hate it if she had to share me
Amelia Jade 1 year ago
I thought this too. My cat was the center of my world and so spoiled. When I had my first kid, I was so worried that she'd be upset. But she adored my daughter. I have so many cute pics of them together.
#7
Might be cruel but every time my sister complains about how rowdy her kids get, I think 'never going to be me'.
Wysteria_Rose 1 year ago
It would be cruel if you said it to her face. It's not cruel to have honest feelings. There are plenty of times I see my friend who had twins the first time and then proceeded to have two more that I am VERY relieved that I don't have that many.
#8
I'm not done being a kid myself. Making up for lost time during my childhood now.
Wendy Forrest 1 year ago
Can we change the question as to why people want to have kids? Apart from mini me's and immotality. Why not adopt the many unwanted children?
#9
F**k the patriarchy is my pettiest reason, but I don’t really have a reason I’m just not interested - the fact that there’s a lot of advantages to that lifestyle is just a great bonus
ADHORTATOR 1 year ago
That's ok, if you don't want kids, don't have them - no other reason needed
#10
I enjoy my quiet peace and copious amounts of sleep. Kids would ruin both.
#11
So that whenever anything bad happens in my life, I can say 'at least I don't have kids.' Every morning I wake up happy to not have kids.
Also kids' music sucks.
#13
To prove my mom wrong from that time when I was 10 and she told me—after [foolishly?] telling her I didn’t want to have children when I grew up: “but…having children is the MOST IMPORTANT thing I woman can do with her life!”
I have done some seriously cool s**t with my life since then that did not in any way involve having a child.
#14
The bloodline dies with me, and I am not giving my bio. mother the satisfaction of spreading her genetics through the gene pool. Also, maintaining my anti-social life and being able to keep up with my Art hobby <3
#15
It hurts.
I don't want to ruin my body.
I HATE bodily fluids (snot/pee/vomit/s**t), I do not want any of that disgusting mess near me (that includes pet's fluids too).
Shark Lady 1 year ago
@Malcom, trust me if you have a stoma you deal with 100 times more s**t than you do without one.
#16
I'm self-centred. I don't like having to live my life around others needs. Making myself happy is my primary goal in life. I live for me. I view my purpose in this life as being able to cater to my every need. I want to be able pursue whatever I like, whenever I like, however I like with no restrictions. To be a parent means you need to be selfless for decades. That sounds like pure hell!
I'm not cold or evil, and people have always come to me for advice/support and find me dependable, but I know if I had to be a parent, I'd resent my kids so much, and no child deserves a parent like that.
Mrs. Ginger McSarcasm 1 year ago
EXACTLY! A child can feel if they're not wanted. I would know. I would never ever ever make any children of mine (if I have any) feel unwanted.
Daniela Lavanza 1 year ago
Upvote for telling this awful truth. A friend of mine was the second child and always reminded he was never wanted. Strangely enough, his parents changed their mind when he became successful and rich.
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Turbo the Great and Terrible 1 year ago
I have said these words for 30 years. I am selfish and self-centered. However, I am self-aware enough to acknowledge this and act accordingly. A child deserves total selflessness from parents. I see many people who are in denial about their self-centeredness and have children for the wrong reasons. I wish more people were honest with themselves.
Rhiannon Jane 4 months ago
Isn't it wonderful! It seems so liberating to be able to acknowledge and prioritize your own wants and needs. I'm inspired!
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#17
I want the option of leaving whenever I need to. I'm happy where I'm at, but I always want to be able to travel or just straight up move without worrying abt a child's schedule. I would van life, but a kid deserves space and I don't want to be one of those vanlife influencers who think a curtain is a wall.
#18
It's something of an official "F U" to the religious upbringing I had telling me the ultimate purpose for uterus bearers like myself was becoming a STAH broodmare
#19
sticky fingers, why are they so f*****g sticky!
#20
Not having to answer “why?” even once per day to anyf*ckingone
#21
Because I like my afternoon naps uninterrupted and free weekends.
Also, not giving my homophobic fundie religious Narc dad any grandkids to abuse with threats of damnation and fear of demons wanting to destroy them for being born "sinners" is high up on my list also.
Ivana Bašić 1 year ago
You can have kids and not allow your parents near them. I hope this person cuts off contact with their father even without children. We deserve to be treated well regardless of whether we become parents.
#22
I love my freedom. I want to go out one evening on the whim? I can just do it. I can travel during term time, sleep in, walk around the house in just my knickers and a t-shirt lol
#23
I like not hearing screeching, banging, and thunderous stomping inside my own home. I like having a beautiful garden with lots of plants. It's nice when the plants don't get trampled or otherwise destroyed.
Jane No Dough 1 year ago (edited)
Furbabies can be even more destructive yet we love them fiercely anyway. Material things and even the effort we put in to obtain them are not important in the grand scheme. I vehemently believe however, that anyone who doesn't want children for ANY REASON shouldn't have them.
#24
I didn't want to gain weight. I've had body image issues since middle school. 4 years ago, I lost weight and kept it off and I've been much more confident since. I don't want to lose that.
#25
Not having to worry about school districts or being close to schools when moving or relocating.
#26
I hate children's tv shows. Loud, high pitched, etc etc. If something in my home is loud it better f*****g be deathcore.
Mycroft1967 1 year ago
It's not the cartoons that I find annoying. Some are mildly entertaining. It's sitting through all those kids' commercials.
#27
Loud noises hurt my ears.
Bored Potato 1 year ago
My 2 year old brother once cried from 2 to 7 am. I would be impressed if it wasn’t a school day and I wasn’t late because of this.
#29
My mil wants me to
Milady Blue 1 year ago
I was told that I "owed" my parents grandkids, that I would miss out on my "prime biological" reason for existence, and that I "owed" the family to keep the bloodline going. Nope. I have plenty of cousins who very enthusiastically took on my share for me.
#30
The idea of growing something inside my belly sounds too much like Alien the movie and feels so animal world.
xxx 1 year ago
The idea of pregnancy and all the things that come with it freak me out. I know this may be a touchy statement but I'm glad I physically can't have kids. When the doc told me, I was actually relieved. I had planned on never having kids anyways, and always thought that if I change my mind I'll adopt.
#31
They don't belong in breweries. They also smell worse than dogsh*t.
#32
Babies are ugly.
I struggle managing my weight and I don’t want to gain it from getting pregnant.
I like to sleep
I like spending my money on myself.
Kakashisith 1 year ago
And babies are annoying. I gonna be dead too, I don`t want a corpse near me. Why should I want a kid?
#33
I want to spend my money on _my_ games and books, not on _child's_ toys and books.
#34
They're stinky.
madeleine f 1 year ago
A friend's kid always farts a lot at the dining table when I come around for food. 🤢
#35
I'm a maximalist. I'm sure as hell not trusting my trinkets around sticky, clumsy hands.
cecilia kilian 1 year ago
I would wager that some minimalists feel the same. Sticky handprints on pristine walls, food stains on shiney countertops, toys, shoes, and other stuff scattered everywhere! I have 2 now adult kids, and enjoyed most of the journey, but I totally get that not everyone wants to go that route. I am also covering up the troll's comment.
#36
I absolutely loathe children songs. I actually cannot even describe you the primal anger I feel every time I hear something like baby shark.
#37
Babies are cute on the other hand my reasons to not have kids are cultural indifferences, generational trauma, spankings, groundings and my autism. I don’t want my future offspring to suffer the same way I did.
I like to sleep in, work, watch movies, go on road trips and I’m actually behind on adulting at 31.
#38
I wouldn’t call it petty but it’s also the same reason why I have never understood the urge to be in a relationship: I don’t want to go by someone else’s schedule. I have OCD and the idea of having to change things around makes me physically ill.
A petty reason? Hmmmm…. I simply think life would be so much more enjoyable if we had less of a population. Don’t want people to die, but I sure do hope that less people are born.
But then I love animals and my life is always astronomically better when I have an animal to take care of (which means changing schedules), so maybe the reason is just that I really do not get any positive results from people. Like I love my family, but why the hell would I want to continue it? I’m sure my dad’s batch of secret children that he’s hidden all around the country will continue my blood line just fine. I don’t feel the need for human interaction, and I sure as hell don’t need a kid that actively NEEDS my attention. Having friends is already too much of a burden on my life I can’t imagine having a kid jesus christ.
Love my half-brothers more than anything. I’m over 10 years older than then so it’s not like I grew up with them or anything. I seriously adore them, and when I’m with them I can understand the love that parents have for children, but I seriously can’t imagine ever wanting or having my own. Like why not just get a dog? They’re cuter, better behaved,and less expensive.
Kakashisith 1 year ago
I understand you. I gave relationshits up 5 years ago and life is very peaceful. My body gets water, food and sleep. That`s enough.
#40
I have an extensive collection of stuffed animals, and I don't want to share them with anyone
What do you think ?
lenka 1 year ago
Most of these are not petty at all, but genuine valid reasons not to have children.
Lilla Ontherun 1 year ago
I'm f.cking scared of the future, of the wars, the climate change, my government knowingly ruined the healthcare and the education system in my country. I'm not strong enough to bear it, and I know I can not raise a kid to be strong enough to handle any kind of hell that the future will be.
Zedrapazia 1 year ago
For me, it's everything all at once why I don't want kids. First, this is my body, the brains, and everything else that wants to duck everything up just to make itself comfortable is basically a tapeworm and has to be eradicated immediately. Birth sounds like the Alien movies to me, everything gets torn up, except that the thing that gets born doesn't just run away and grows up in an hour, but demands me to give it attention for like half of my lifespan. Then, babies can't do anything but scream, make messes and stink - all things I hate. When I see a baby in a train, I have to leave the compartment because the noises they make make me go Berserk. Toddlers are awful too, they're in that No-Phase, and they also scream all the time, no matter if they are happy or not. Aside from that, they just keep getting more and more expensive from this point on, given the current statistics in my country having kids makes the difference between living in a huge apartment with international holidays every year and barely scrapping by. Guess what I am choosing! This is topper off by the fact that both I and my partner have an array of mental and physical issues, and there's absolutely no reason to pass this all over to some gremlin abomination of a kid. And last but not least, my father is a narcissist who wants to become immortal through a bloodline (his words). Seriously, f**k that, I'll thwart every attempt in keeping this s**t up I can.
Zedrapazia 1 year ago
I am health wise also not able to support a pregnancy anyway, I would die because of genetic complications in my blood components.
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Poison Ivy/Boo 1 year ago
I don't see most of these as petty, they are actually real reasons. If you don't want children, don't have them. It's no skin off my nose. I've never understood why ppl push others or questions their reasonings. "No" is a complete sentence ppl.
Emma Goransdottir 1 year ago
You should never get a child if you are not 100% sure that you want and can take care of it. Too many people reproduces just because "that is what you do" or "oops, here comes another one". You should not be questioned why you don't want kids. You should be questioned why do you want kids.
Echo 1 year ago
I'm 14, (yes, I know this is the internet, but there are millions of fourteen year olds in the world. This info is not endangering me) and my parents recently learned that I don't want kids. The thing is, I'm going to have a vet business, I graduate vet school when I'm 22, I might JOIN THE ARMY (because I can't be in debt for vet school for the next decade) I would not have time to give an infant the time and attention it needs and deserves. I'm also a writer and an artist and I ride horses. I simply WOULDN'T be happy. And maybe that's selfish. Secondly, they are expensive, thirdly, I don't want to pass down mental health issues, fourth, I have a crippling fear of pregnancy, and finally, I WOULD BE A TERRIBLE MOTHER.
Paddling Panda 1 year ago
Hi Echo. I knew when I was 12 that I never wanted to be a mother. And 43 years later, I can tell you that not only did I not have human children, I've never even been pregnant. And I love my life with my dog and cats. You have a very clear idea of what you want to do with YOUR life. Go for it! And enjoy each step of the way! Also, ignore all the idiots who say you'll change your mind, including any boyfriend who tries to convince you that it'll be great to have kids together and make a "family". I'm a family of one human, one dog, and three cats and mine is just as real a family as those with human kids. You do you, Echo. Always.
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Baseball is Life 1 year ago
A lot of these comments are valid reasons not to have children, far from being petty.
Mrs. Ginger McSarcasm 1 year ago (edited)
I don't want to give any child the metal issues that me, my birth-mother (who practically abandoned me as a young child and has been in and out of my life since), and her birth-mother (who did the same to my birth-mother) have. I would never wish that on anyone. The only reason I do want kids is to show my parents (mainly my stepmother) that you can raise a child without yelling and punishing and putting them down every single day. And that's not a good enough reason to have kids. It's possible I might consider adoption in the future if I have the right reasons. But for now I'm enjoying the freedom and happiness I never had until I stopped living with my dad and stepmother. I'm not ready to not be selfish yet. Edit: Plus I still have too much trauma from my childhood that I refuse to pass on the any children I have. I need loads of therapy first and I don't have the time or money for that right now.
Susie Elle 1 year ago
I enjoy my friends' kids, they're lovely little humans, but the moment they start to act up or throw a tantrum I'm already done. It's not the kid's fault, they're just children, and once they're back to earth they're lovely again. But I can't imagine having to be the person to endure the tantrums, the vomit, the mess, the noise, the ungratefulness and everything else day in day out, ALL THE TIME. And yes they do cute stuff too, but good lord do they not outweight everything else. I'd love to have a family, but I don't want to be a parent.
Bored Potato 1 year ago
My younger siblings have all but ruined it for me. Also, I just wanna say… f**k off, Malcolm Berry.
Boreddd(she/her) 1 year ago (edited)
1. I'm like 90% sure I'm aroace 2. I like my personal space and time 3. I hate noise 4. Children are disgusting(sticky and stinky) 5. I want to be able to decorate my house however I want without it getting ravaged 6. It would probably ruin my body and mental health 7. I would be a horrific parent 8. I don't want to cook for anyone except for myself ; I can probably find more reasons but why does it even matter wtf
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
Great reasons, rubbish reasons, petty reasons, selfish reasons, or no reason at all. It doesn’t matter, it’s your life, you own it, you get to do exactly what you want with it, you don’t owe anyone anything. Want children? I wish you luck in your endeavours. Want a life without children? I wish you luck in your endeavours. Equally, if you change your mind from either position that’s perfectly normal and once again, it’s your life. You don’t owe anyone anything when it comes to children.
Dirk Daring 1 year ago
I'm getting a strong sense that a certain M.B. in this post deeply regrets having children.
Scarlett 1 year ago
I have a myriad of reasons, but my main two are I refuse to put my poor cat who already has a bent tail tip from pulling and hates high pitched noises through dealing with bratty children (his old owners gave him to two mentally disabled kids who never should have had pets). I also have a corn snake who’s never bitten but requires gentle handling and no kids banging on the glass of his cage. They matter more to me.
CORGI QUEEN 1 year ago
loud, expensive, gross. They also will say I'm wrong. Birth is scary and I think it would hurt and I might spoil them. I am not designed to be a parent
Ephemeral Mochi 1 year ago (edited)
I have a pretty hard time taking care of myself physically and mentally, so there's no way I could take care of a kid. The concept of pregnancy and birth is terrifying and disgusting to me. My family has a history of autoimmune disorders that I don't want to risk passing down. I could go on and on. I've known since I was little myself that I do not ever want to have children. Edit to add, reading through all the comments on this post, it seems like so many people just came here to try to argue and demean people who are choosing not to have kids.
Marie Paris 1 year ago
The word "petty" is what set me off.No one needs to give an explanation for not having children. However, there are so many people who should not have children.The children always pay 5he price for abuse and negligence.
MagicJacket 1 year ago
There are also plenty of acceptable reasons to never get married. No one owes anyone anything for how they choose to live their lives, and I say that as a guy who got married and has kids (now adults.)
Paddling Panda 1 year ago
None of these reasons is petty. I don't think there are any petty reasons to be child-free. And I agree with Enlee Jones. I do not owe anyone a reason. My life. My decision. Period.
AzzyIsHere (They/he xenos) 1 year ago
My reasoning is simple: I'm gay. Want a more petty reason? I've already been raising my 4 siblings, I'm good for the rest of my life thanks.
Glitterati 1 year ago
Nobody should have a kid if they don’t want one and any reason is fine. I do take issue with generalisations about children though, like “children” is a species all of its own and they’re all smelly, sticky, loud, sleepless, destructive etc. We were all children and none of us like being stereotyped or lumped in with everyone else. They’re all different: some are fussy about clean hands, some will sit in their own pee for hours, some sleep heaps, some cry, some are chilled. There’s no one child and I wish we didn’t refer to them as one personality type
Rhiannon Jane 4 months ago
I'd love to see the conversation reversed. Let's normalize asking parents why they wanted children instead.
Raven Hayden Rudnik 6 months ago
I want a kid but I cant have one. I would like to adopt, but I am trans and gay, so Yeah. In my own country it's illegal for me to adopt. Getting a citizenship is A long proces and I am not sure if it is worth it. I love Kids Songs and Shows. What would be really bad for me is having to meet other parents. I dont vibe ith many people. I dont care about the things most people care about. And all those meetings are usually super Loud. If I had child I would also travel a lot with them, so I would have to home school them, and if I had to do it in a foreign language, it would be super hard.
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
I read through all of these and it just pissed me off. These are not "petty" reasons to not have a child - they strike me as well thought out actual, practical REASONS to not have a child. You really f*cked the pooch on this one Bored Panda. Try getting your headline a little more accurate? Like - "What Are Your Reasons for Not Wanting a Child" because everything I've read is perfectly sound. Pull your f*cking head out for a change.
Danish Susanne 1 year ago
Somebody once told me, that the meaning of life was having children. I thought about it and ended up thinking that if the meaning of life is producing more gametes it holds no meaning for me.
Belladonna.dreams 1 year ago
So I'm a mother of 2 and I respect people who don't want kids. I love my boys but had I known my mental health would take the turn it's taken, I wouldn't have had kids. I feel like a partial mother most days and I fear the struggles they will have due to the mental problems I passed on to them.
Nicole Bowman 1 year ago
I've known since I was 10 I never wanted kids. 30 years later, I *still* don't want kids. If I even begin to get an *inkling* of wishing, I borrow my youngest Niece. Or I watch the bad behavior on my Bus. Problem solved!
PunchinelloTX 1 year ago
Because babies grow up to be people and that…that is just unacceptable.
Mark Kelly 1 year ago
The cost and responsibilities for me. Plus I have a 2 door RSX car that I really like.
Glenn Schroeder 1 year ago
If people don't want to have children that's fine, and they don't owe anyone an explanation. With that being said, not having children just to spite the prospective grandparents (and there were several of those here) doesn't make sense to me. I have serious issues with my mother, but it never occurred to me to avoid having children just to hurt her. That's not petty. I'm not sure what it is, but it goes beyond petty.
Sherman Von Gee 1 year ago
None of these are "petty" wtf.... these are all valid reasons to NOT have kids. Why are we classifying a choice as "petty" just because it isn't the "normal" or "traditional" choice? There is no such thing as a "petty" reason to not have kids. They're all equally valid. Also, YOU DO NOT NEED A REASON TO NOT HAVE CHILDREN! You can just choose not to for absolutely no reason at all or for the simplest, seemingly selfish reasons.. like you don't want to get fat or you don't want to sacrifice your freedom.. THATS FUCKEN VALID! It's just as valid, normal n completely justified as choosing not to have kids for the "noblest" of reasons.. (whatever a "noble" reason may even be) Kids aren't mandatory. can we stop treating being child free as if it's anything other than normal? Being child free IS JUST AS NORMAL AS CHOOSING TO HAVE KIDS N NOBODY HAS TO JUSTIFY EITHER CHOICE OR EVEN HAVE A REASON!
Bored Potato 1 year ago
I mean, the people that are pressuring women to have kids also sound really like those toxic vegans.
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Ace 1 year ago
Yes selfish. In what way is that a bad thing? If it doesn't have any negative impact on anyone else I can't see a problem, and I don't think not wanting your life to be turned upside down is a strange reason at all.
Load More Replies... lenka 1 year ago
Most of these are not petty at all, but genuine valid reasons not to have children.
Lilla Ontherun 1 year ago
I'm f.cking scared of the future, of the wars, the climate change, my government knowingly ruined the healthcare and the education system in my country. I'm not strong enough to bear it, and I know I can not raise a kid to be strong enough to handle any kind of hell that the future will be.
Zedrapazia 1 year ago
For me, it's everything all at once why I don't want kids. First, this is my body, the brains, and everything else that wants to duck everything up just to make itself comfortable is basically a tapeworm and has to be eradicated immediately. Birth sounds like the Alien movies to me, everything gets torn up, except that the thing that gets born doesn't just run away and grows up in an hour, but demands me to give it attention for like half of my lifespan. Then, babies can't do anything but scream, make messes and stink - all things I hate. When I see a baby in a train, I have to leave the compartment because the noises they make make me go Berserk. Toddlers are awful too, they're in that No-Phase, and they also scream all the time, no matter if they are happy or not. Aside from that, they just keep getting more and more expensive from this point on, given the current statistics in my country having kids makes the difference between living in a huge apartment with international holidays every year and barely scrapping by. Guess what I am choosing! This is topper off by the fact that both I and my partner have an array of mental and physical issues, and there's absolutely no reason to pass this all over to some gremlin abomination of a kid. And last but not least, my father is a narcissist who wants to become immortal through a bloodline (his words). Seriously, f**k that, I'll thwart every attempt in keeping this s**t up I can.
Zedrapazia 1 year ago
I am health wise also not able to support a pregnancy anyway, I would die because of genetic complications in my blood components.
Load More Replies... Poison Ivy/Boo 1 year ago
I don't see most of these as petty, they are actually real reasons. If you don't want children, don't have them. It's no skin off my nose. I've never understood why ppl push others or questions their reasonings. "No" is a complete sentence ppl.
Emma Goransdottir 1 year ago
You should never get a child if you are not 100% sure that you want and can take care of it. Too many people reproduces just because "that is what you do" or "oops, here comes another one". You should not be questioned why you don't want kids. You should be questioned why do you want kids.
Echo 1 year ago
I'm 14, (yes, I know this is the internet, but there are millions of fourteen year olds in the world. This info is not endangering me) and my parents recently learned that I don't want kids. The thing is, I'm going to have a vet business, I graduate vet school when I'm 22, I might JOIN THE ARMY (because I can't be in debt for vet school for the next decade) I would not have time to give an infant the time and attention it needs and deserves. I'm also a writer and an artist and I ride horses. I simply WOULDN'T be happy. And maybe that's selfish. Secondly, they are expensive, thirdly, I don't want to pass down mental health issues, fourth, I have a crippling fear of pregnancy, and finally, I WOULD BE A TERRIBLE MOTHER.
Paddling Panda 1 year ago
Hi Echo. I knew when I was 12 that I never wanted to be a mother. And 43 years later, I can tell you that not only did I not have human children, I've never even been pregnant. And I love my life with my dog and cats. You have a very clear idea of what you want to do with YOUR life. Go for it! And enjoy each step of the way! Also, ignore all the idiots who say you'll change your mind, including any boyfriend who tries to convince you that it'll be great to have kids together and make a "family". I'm a family of one human, one dog, and three cats and mine is just as real a family as those with human kids. You do you, Echo. Always.
Load More Replies... Baseball is Life 1 year ago
A lot of these comments are valid reasons not to have children, far from being petty.
Mrs. Ginger McSarcasm 1 year ago (edited)
I don't want to give any child the metal issues that me, my birth-mother (who practically abandoned me as a young child and has been in and out of my life since), and her birth-mother (who did the same to my birth-mother) have. I would never wish that on anyone. The only reason I do want kids is to show my parents (mainly my stepmother) that you can raise a child without yelling and punishing and putting them down every single day. And that's not a good enough reason to have kids. It's possible I might consider adoption in the future if I have the right reasons. But for now I'm enjoying the freedom and happiness I never had until I stopped living with my dad and stepmother. I'm not ready to not be selfish yet. Edit: Plus I still have too much trauma from my childhood that I refuse to pass on the any children I have. I need loads of therapy first and I don't have the time or money for that right now.
Susie Elle 1 year ago
I enjoy my friends' kids, they're lovely little humans, but the moment they start to act up or throw a tantrum I'm already done. It's not the kid's fault, they're just children, and once they're back to earth they're lovely again. But I can't imagine having to be the person to endure the tantrums, the vomit, the mess, the noise, the ungratefulness and everything else day in day out, ALL THE TIME. And yes they do cute stuff too, but good lord do they not outweight everything else. I'd love to have a family, but I don't want to be a parent.
Bored Potato 1 year ago
My younger siblings have all but ruined it for me. Also, I just wanna say… f**k off, Malcolm Berry.
Boreddd(she/her) 1 year ago (edited)
1. I'm like 90% sure I'm aroace 2. I like my personal space and time 3. I hate noise 4. Children are disgusting(sticky and stinky) 5. I want to be able to decorate my house however I want without it getting ravaged 6. It would probably ruin my body and mental health 7. I would be a horrific parent 8. I don't want to cook for anyone except for myself ; I can probably find more reasons but why does it even matter wtf
Gavin Johnson 1 year ago
Great reasons, rubbish reasons, petty reasons, selfish reasons, or no reason at all. It doesn’t matter, it’s your life, you own it, you get to do exactly what you want with it, you don’t owe anyone anything. Want children? I wish you luck in your endeavours. Want a life without children? I wish you luck in your endeavours. Equally, if you change your mind from either position that’s perfectly normal and once again, it’s your life. You don’t owe anyone anything when it comes to children.
Dirk Daring 1 year ago
I'm getting a strong sense that a certain M.B. in this post deeply regrets having children.
Scarlett 1 year ago
I have a myriad of reasons, but my main two are I refuse to put my poor cat who already has a bent tail tip from pulling and hates high pitched noises through dealing with bratty children (his old owners gave him to two mentally disabled kids who never should have had pets). I also have a corn snake who’s never bitten but requires gentle handling and no kids banging on the glass of his cage. They matter more to me.
CORGI QUEEN 1 year ago
loud, expensive, gross. They also will say I'm wrong. Birth is scary and I think it would hurt and I might spoil them. I am not designed to be a parent
Ephemeral Mochi 1 year ago (edited)
I have a pretty hard time taking care of myself physically and mentally, so there's no way I could take care of a kid. The concept of pregnancy and birth is terrifying and disgusting to me. My family has a history of autoimmune disorders that I don't want to risk passing down. I could go on and on. I've known since I was little myself that I do not ever want to have children. Edit to add, reading through all the comments on this post, it seems like so many people just came here to try to argue and demean people who are choosing not to have kids.
Marie Paris 1 year ago
The word "petty" is what set me off.No one needs to give an explanation for not having children. However, there are so many people who should not have children.The children always pay 5he price for abuse and negligence.
MagicJacket 1 year ago
There are also plenty of acceptable reasons to never get married. No one owes anyone anything for how they choose to live their lives, and I say that as a guy who got married and has kids (now adults.)
Paddling Panda 1 year ago
None of these reasons is petty. I don't think there are any petty reasons to be child-free. And I agree with Enlee Jones. I do not owe anyone a reason. My life. My decision. Period.
AzzyIsHere (They/he xenos) 1 year ago
My reasoning is simple: I'm gay. Want a more petty reason? I've already been raising my 4 siblings, I'm good for the rest of my life thanks.
Glitterati 1 year ago
Nobody should have a kid if they don’t want one and any reason is fine. I do take issue with generalisations about children though, like “children” is a species all of its own and they’re all smelly, sticky, loud, sleepless, destructive etc. We were all children and none of us like being stereotyped or lumped in with everyone else. They’re all different: some are fussy about clean hands, some will sit in their own pee for hours, some sleep heaps, some cry, some are chilled. There’s no one child and I wish we didn’t refer to them as one personality type
Rhiannon Jane 4 months ago
I'd love to see the conversation reversed. Let's normalize asking parents why they wanted children instead.
Raven Hayden Rudnik 6 months ago
I want a kid but I cant have one. I would like to adopt, but I am trans and gay, so Yeah. In my own country it's illegal for me to adopt. Getting a citizenship is A long proces and I am not sure if it is worth it. I love Kids Songs and Shows. What would be really bad for me is having to meet other parents. I dont vibe ith many people. I dont care about the things most people care about. And all those meetings are usually super Loud. If I had child I would also travel a lot with them, so I would have to home school them, and if I had to do it in a foreign language, it would be super hard.
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
I read through all of these and it just pissed me off. These are not "petty" reasons to not have a child - they strike me as well thought out actual, practical REASONS to not have a child. You really f*cked the pooch on this one Bored Panda. Try getting your headline a little more accurate? Like - "What Are Your Reasons for Not Wanting a Child" because everything I've read is perfectly sound. Pull your f*cking head out for a change.
Danish Susanne 1 year ago
Somebody once told me, that the meaning of life was having children. I thought about it and ended up thinking that if the meaning of life is producing more gametes it holds no meaning for me.
Belladonna.dreams 1 year ago
So I'm a mother of 2 and I respect people who don't want kids. I love my boys but had I known my mental health would take the turn it's taken, I wouldn't have had kids. I feel like a partial mother most days and I fear the struggles they will have due to the mental problems I passed on to them.
Nicole Bowman 1 year ago
I've known since I was 10 I never wanted kids. 30 years later, I *still* don't want kids. If I even begin to get an *inkling* of wishing, I borrow my youngest Niece. Or I watch the bad behavior on my Bus. Problem solved!
PunchinelloTX 1 year ago
Because babies grow up to be people and that…that is just unacceptable.
Mark Kelly 1 year ago
The cost and responsibilities for me. Plus I have a 2 door RSX car that I really like.
Glenn Schroeder 1 year ago
If people don't want to have children that's fine, and they don't owe anyone an explanation. With that being said, not having children just to spite the prospective grandparents (and there were several of those here) doesn't make sense to me. I have serious issues with my mother, but it never occurred to me to avoid having children just to hurt her. That's not petty. I'm not sure what it is, but it goes beyond petty.
Sherman Von Gee 1 year ago
None of these are "petty" wtf.... these are all valid reasons to NOT have kids. Why are we classifying a choice as "petty" just because it isn't the "normal" or "traditional" choice? There is no such thing as a "petty" reason to not have kids. They're all equally valid. Also, YOU DO NOT NEED A REASON TO NOT HAVE CHILDREN! You can just choose not to for absolutely no reason at all or for the simplest, seemingly selfish reasons.. like you don't want to get fat or you don't want to sacrifice your freedom.. THATS FUCKEN VALID! It's just as valid, normal n completely justified as choosing not to have kids for the "noblest" of reasons.. (whatever a "noble" reason may even be) Kids aren't mandatory. can we stop treating being child free as if it's anything other than normal? Being child free IS JUST AS NORMAL AS CHOOSING TO HAVE KIDS N NOBODY HAS TO JUSTIFY EITHER CHOICE OR EVEN HAVE A REASON!
Bored Potato 1 year ago
I mean, the people that are pressuring women to have kids also sound really like those toxic vegans.
Load More Replies... Ace 1 year ago
Yes selfish. In what way is that a bad thing? If it doesn't have any negative impact on anyone else I can't see a problem, and I don't think not wanting your life to be turned upside down is a strange reason at all.
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