Breeder: "You're in your 30's, married and have no kids? You must have tried so hard to get pregnant."

Me: "Actually, I've spent most of my adult life trying very hard NOT to get pregnant."

"Me, "Sure, but I'm too afraid of having a child who would grow up to be as rude and tactless as you, 'cause then I'd have to kill her. Since I don't want to go to jail for murder, I've chosen not to have kids."

Bellringr, that is PRICELESS! I need to remember that one. If I get asked that idiotic question, I just flat out reply, "Never. I don't want kids." I usually respond in such a way that shuts them up. For those that are actually rude enough to press the issue, I simply repeat myself. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Judith - your daughter is a cutie! It's nice to see her smiling face here. Thanks for your insights as someone that has taken the plunge!

Moe - I think many people ask this question out of ignorance. I recently had someone ask me this within the first five minutes of them meeting me. I honestly think sometimes they are just trying to make conversation ... and inadvertantly to swing the conversation around to their own kids because that's an easy and 'safe' thing for them to talk about.

Still, I don't like it and it's uncomfortable. I usually answer "we have two dogs and a cat and that's enough for now." If it's family or a close friend I might go into more detail about our decision if I feel like it.

I can't decide if it's worse or better for 'family' to ask the question ... it is so incredibly personal I just don't think it's ANYONE's business, but it seems like close family somehow has a "right" to know where you stand. I may be wrong here -- anyone else want to weigh in on that? I guess it depends on your relationship with your family, too.

My mother-in-law once whined to my husband and I: "but you guys would make such great parents!" Whatever. I'd probably make a great circus clown too but it doesn't mean I'm gonna do it.