“Seriously, Zero Regrets”: 35 Opinions From Childfree People In Their 40s & 50s

Diversity is currently such a hot topic because in reality, not everyone is the same or has the same preferences. In a time when people are choosing to live more authentically, recognising one’s own needs and catering to it is a trend on the rise. Whether it’s related to food, clothing or life choices, ultimately it’s an individual’s right to understand and choose for themselves what experience package they are here for during their time on Earth.  However, it’s a given that it's in one’s best interest to make any decision based on data. Recently, the topic of choosing whether to follow a childfree lifestyle or not has been gaining traction online. In this debate, perhaps the following honest reflections from older Redditors dealing with the consequences of their choices may aid in assessing the impacts of this unusual decision without clouding one’s judgement through fear. 

#1

Image source: dialrr, grustock Everything I do is my preference. My whole day is built around this. Have a bunch of nieces/nephews as well but just get to do my own thing all the time.

#2

Image source: Huge-Peen-mean-ween, ansiia Like there's money around and no responsibility.

#3

Image source: Lothar_28, freepik How does it feel? It feels awesome. I still think of it as the best decision I’ve ever made in life. I knew early on that being a parent was just not for me. I got a lot of blowback from family members, but, hey, it’s my life to live as I wish. No regrets at 60 now and loving life!

#4

  Image source: Sanpaku, Kateryna_Mostova Relief that I didn't cast any children into the cauldron of the 21st century.

#5

Image source: SeahorseQueen1985, freepik We have a cat and dog & that's enough for us! We can go on holiday when we like, treat ourselves to a nice life. See our nephews regularly and happy to give them back!

#6

This might sound weird but does anybody else never think about it? For me it’s not some internal conundrum that I’m constantly battling. I just literally have never considered having kids. I don’t think about it at all. I just live my life. Image source: mattfiddy

#7

Well, I’m 44M, make $100k+ a year and own my house. it’s Saturday and I just woke up at 10 am. Gonna make coffee and breakfast and probably play video games for the next few hours then who knows. Image source: Miserable-Yak-8041

#8

Image source: Hot-Prize217, freepik It feels like the freedom as an adult that you imagined as a child. It also gives me more bandwidth to help my own parents do old-timer things.

#9

Image source: windowschick, freepik Instead of 3 kids and no monies, I chose no kids and all the monies. Seriously zero regrets, other than not being sterilized 20 years sooner. Kids aren't for everyone. Not all adults should be parents. Mine shouldn't have.

#10

Image source: BloodyBarbieBrains, halayalex It’s a relief. With the unexpected hardships that have arisen in my adult life, the stress of children would be k*****g me.

#11

Thankful I did not force a life into this world just to keep up and copy the life of my peers. My sister once told me I would regret not having kids because no one would care for me in old age...and then she bolted when my mum got cancer - didn't even come for the funeral. Yeah...I'm good with my choice. Image source: Mental_K_Oss

#12

Image source: ouattedephoqueeh, zinkevych I'm happy with my choice.

#13

Image source: Capable-Block6054, frimufilms When you don't have kids you stop aging internally around 25 years old. And the freedom, the freedom is priceless.

#14

F*****g awesome! I spend all my money on me, do whatever the f**k I want, whenever I want to. There's no children crying, no messes to clean up besides the ones I make myself, no parent teacher conferences, no school recitals, no peewee soccer games I have to attend with a bunch of other loser parents that I have to be nice to because my kid is friends with their kid, I don't need to watch children's movies or TV shows, the list goes on. The more I type this stuff, the happier I get! Image source: EvilGeesus

#15

Image source: BlueSkyWitch, freepik Eh. I would have liked to have children, but life just didn't work out that way. Occasionally I have the "I wish" feelings, but I also think it happened this way for a reason. A lot of my friends have kids, and I am the 'cool aunt' who brings the fun, but can also be a listening post when the kid wants to talk about something they're not ready to talk to their parents about just yet. I'm happy with that. I think I've also sort of become the 'kid-parent' translator in a way. Sometimes my friends are frustrated with their kids, and I've been able to explain the child's point of view that seems to help everybody step back and rethink a bit. (I kind of put it down to 'they're all in the situation, so don't see thing objectively'.) It may not be much, but if it helps, then okay.

#16

Feels great! 44f childfree by choice, I’ve never regretted the choice, actually the decision is paying off more now than ever before. Was married for 20 years, divorced last year and was so thankful I wasn’t having to deal with custody issues or becoming a single mom on top of everything else. My ex may have had regrets… his affair partners of choice were single moms so maybe he really wanted to play daddy ?‍♀️. Image source: Critical_Seaweed_165

#17

Image source: thecosytrader, freepik Extremely peaceful! And the sense of freedom is wonderful.

#18

Fantastic. I actually love kids but can’t imagine: 1. Always having the responsibility of a child 2. Subjecting the child to my mental health issues 3. Bringing life into a world where Earth is dying 4. Affording to live in the US with a child 5. Dealing with the anxiety of my child’s future with the bleakness of the world issues we are currently experiencing (civil unrest/wealth disparity/nuclear war/AI/Environmental crisis, etc). Image source: iamrosieriley

#19

As someone who just spent a holiday weekend with my family and 4 nieces and nephews I definitely have no regrets. Image source: Ok-Savings-5209

#20

Feels super great. 10 out of 10. Five stars. No regrets. Image source: Geologyst1013

#21

I made the right decision not having kids. Parenting isn't for everyone and I wish society would stop acting like it is. There is nothing weird or selfish or abnormal about someone deciding children aren't for them. . Image source: PuppyJakeKhakiCollar

#22

Image source: Far_Hamster_7121 I'm 52, will be married 25 years in a few weeks, and have no children by choice. How does it feel? FABULOUS!!!

#23

Image source: More-Tumbleweed-, freepik I can do ridiculous things on a whim. Yeah, no regrets there.

#24

40, and lifelong single and loving it. Can do what I want whenever. I have colleagues on their second marriage, drama galore. I want none of that. Image source: anon

#25

Fantastic! My life is lots of fun, and mostly stress free. Image source: midtown_museo

#26

I can give my pets their best life. Theres always that group of people who seem to dislike childless people and they always want to bring up their legacy and whose going to take care of you when you get old. But we’ve seen plenty of older, people die alone. Gene Hackman and his wife the most recent. Image source: dee5384

#27

Fantastic. Best decision I ever made in my life, and those are far and few between lol. Image source: Agreeable_Initial667

#28

No lies, its pretty sweet. Image source: carstanza

#29

I visit family members with kids and one thing is made emphatically clear to me: my house is quiet and peaceful. I go over to my sibling-in-law house, it is so non-stop loud and noisy and screechy. My quiet house is such a big difference. Image source: Background-Chef9253

#30

I feel content AF. I travel to foreign countries twice a year and use my disposable income on whatever I want. I have friends, family, and I’m very happy! 47F. Image source: CBinCHS

#31

Free time. No obligations. Spare money. Peace and quiet. Image source: BlueSpotBingo

#32

Awesome to be honest. For various reasons including medical, I just don’t have the physical and mental stamina to deal with any of that. I’m also a little sensitive to noise, so shrieking children are unbearable to me. Image source: Ilovethe90sforreal

#33

I always thought that having kids would be fun and a rewarding experience --story break-- when I was 25 I dated a single mother for a while and was very involved in the kid's life --back to reality-- I no longer had any desire to have children of my own. I have nieces and nephews, friends with kids, I can get my fill of the children experience elsewhere. Image source: WritingWonderful9479

#34

Things are hard enough without them I'm glad I didn't have any, especially considering the way everything will be falling apart in the next 5-10 years. It's a great time to not exist. Image source: Sea_Description_4944

#35

I love it. 46 and so happy. We fill the space with friends, hobbies, travel. We do have a very fun niece and nephew whom we borrow occasionally. It’s like microdosing parenting. Image source: Icy_Currency_7306