I just wanna set the record straight!

So I read through this sub a lot since I’m not on Instagram. I see a lot of assumptions made about childfree people on other subs and social media. Just wanted to set the record straight for anyone lurking here from other subs who might be interested in going childfree. Here’s the reality for me and for the majority of other childfree people I’ve met on Reddit.<br><br>If you see someone posting as childfree, chances are they either hate kids or they don’t want to have kids, right? Wrong. I love kids! I used to want kids. That’s why I’m on this chamber - I found out as an adult that actually, I really don’t want kids. My friends who are also childfree mostly love kids and are great with them. Does this mean we go around touching little girls/baby boys? Nope! Being attracted to minors and being physically or sexually abusive to children are totally different things from simply liking kids. We don’t abuse or molest children. We don’t even touch children inappropriately at all. We aren’t all pedophiles or pedo apologists, nor do we condone pedophilia. We do have sex drives (or lack thereof) and most of us are capable of understanding what is and isn’t appropriate.<br><br>But you just don’t want kids because you hate dealing with screaming and tantrums, right? Nope! I don’t mind kids being kids. In fact, I used to want children of my own. I love watching kids learn to navigate the world around them and learn new things. I love watching them figure out social cues and get to know other people. I love seeing them excited about their interests and hobbies. I accept that kids can throw tantrums sometimes when they’re overwhelmed or upset. Watching adults who are immature throw tantrums is far worse in my opinion than watching a child throw a tantrum, since adults should know better than to throw temper tantrums. I love seeing kids chase each other around during games of tag and hide and seek. I LOVE seeing kids learn to play musical instruments and sing. I LOVE making kids laugh and smile. <br><br>But you’re all just bitter that your parents didn’t have time for you as kids, right? Nope! I don’t care if my parents were busy as long as they spent time with me and I could see they loved me. I have no resentment over this. It’s not like I’m gonna have a kid just to prove to myself that I can give them the attention my parents didn’t give me. I got the attention I needed from my parents, and I’m happy with my relationship with them.<br><br>But you’re just afraid of how hard it is to raise kids, right? Nope! I’ve read the studies and the books. I don’t think it’s hard raising kids. In fact, I think it would be very rewarding… if it were for me. It’s not for me but I do think parents have it pretty easy overall and get praised way too much for doing something they chose to do. <br><br>But you are probably a loner who can’t stand anyone and who thinks they’re better than everyone else for being childfree, right? Nope! I’m actually a people person. I get along with tons of different people. I’m not opposite to being social and I don’t think I’m better than others who choose to have kids. I understand there are many different kinds of lifestyles a person can choose from, and parenting is one that a lot of people choose. I have no issue with that, as long as they aren’t neglecting or abusing their kids. I don’t want to be a parent. Why would I be mad at parents for choosing the opposite of what I want? I don’t want to be a doctor or a teacher or a firefighter either. Why would I be mad at people who choose to pursue careers I don’t want for myself?<br><br>But being childfree is a relatively new thing, right? As long as there have been people who do want kids, there have been people who do not. The term 'childfree' was invented in 1990s but families who were childfree by choice have existed forever. It’s always been an option. There are people who do want kids and people who don’t. And that’s perfectly fine. <br><br>I just want to say that most people who are childfree don’t have any kind of agenda or anything. We aren’t a cult. We aren’t trying to brainwash others to join our ranks or anything like that. We just don’t want kids. We think it’s a good choice for anyone who doesn’t want kids to be childfree. We don’t think it’s a good choice for anyone who does want kids to be childfree. Just like anybody else, we want as many people as possible to be happy and fulfilled. If you want kids, have kids. If you don’t, don’t. It’s not hard.