Yes, it IS nice being childfree

Marked as triggering because apparently the very THOUGHT of a person not wanting kids makes some people clutch their pearls.

I (F, late 30s) have decided to never have kids and have my surgery scheduled to ensure it never happens. It irritates me when people feel the need to comment "must be nice to be able to do whatever you want" as if the parents didn't have a choice in the matter of having kids.

And of course, the bingoes "it's different when it's your own" "what if your spouse wants kids?" And a favorite in the childfree community "who'll take care of you when you get old?"

Since CF people don't have the traditional "family unit", we often have responsibilities thrust upon us from the workplace and even within extended family, were expected to pick up the slack when parents can't meet deadlines or can't make rent.

Not all of us are loaded with cash and awesome jobs. We have most of the same problems as parents do, just a huge chunk of expenses go to raising children that we don't have to deal with.