There seems to be a bit of a debate going on around Shine today over this article. The author has six reasons, not the best reasons ever, but valid reasons why she doesn’t want to have children.
Some people left lovely comments calling this poor woman selfish. I say, wtf??? How is not wanting to have children selfish? Just because she can and doesn’t want to? Does this mean we should all have ten children because we can???
If anything, I think the opposite is true. Having kids is completely selfish! Introducing more people into the world when there’s already a strain on resources?
Of course, if everyone stopped having children, that would be disastrous. And the more people who have children, the more diverse the gene pool, which is good. The thing is, no one has children for these reasons. People have children because they want to have a family, they have a biological need to pass on their genes, they want to care for someone, they want someone to care for them, they don’t use birth control. They don’t have children to help society.
I think the world could use more people that realize what a big responsibility raising children is. They certainly aren’t selfish, they’re smart.
And if you’re curious, I am not one of these people, I have selfish genes, I want a baby one day. That’s what I want because I know that’s what will make me happy. Just like not having a baby will make this woman happy. Isn’t that the important thing?
Well put! I have friends who don’t want kids and a lot of friends who do, I guess it all depends on what are you doing with your life, do you have the funds to raise a child for 18+ years with someone or are you doing alone. As well there are people who should not have kids and there are wonderful people who can’t have kids who want.
I’ve been called selfish but unless someone is in my shoes (or hers) no one can say shit cause we all live didn’t life’s!
I think she has her reasons why she doesn’t want kids. I guess we just have to accept it. However, I want kids someday. 2 or 3 tops. I don’t want just one, since I don’t want them to be lonely, like I had to grow up. I’m an only child, you know. It was pretty lonely growing up, not having a younger sibling to pick on, or an older sibling to look up to, and tease me. lol.
I agree with that you said. I think people care too much about trying to tell others what to do. I am one of those who doesn’t really want to have kids so I understand where she’s coming from.
I enjoyed being an only child. From what I saw of my friends’ siblings, they were a pain.
In the asian culture, not having kids mean generation suicide. I honestly do not believe that it’s considered “selfish” to have kids. You are producing, creating the future, and creating a means of production. If we were never meant to have children, I’m pretty sure us women would never have ovaries. But that’s just my point of view. To not have children could also be considered as selfish because you’re putting yourself first, you’re putting your goals, dreams, and life first. Having children can also be the most unselfish thing, because you are now caring for another life that is not your own.
I agree, the world needs to have more parents who understand that responsibility, and if they don’t want to have children yet, put on a condom or something!! There’s so many parents who are both selfish when they have children and children grow up raised in a messed up family like that one Disney protege, Shia “whatever” his last name is. He’s so messed now.
But that’s just my opinion, it can be a two way street, but if not having children is her thing, then all the more power to her! All I know is that I’m trying to travel as much as I can before I settle down and I plan to do that within the next two years!