BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Saying Hello!

Hi Ladies!

I'm new to this forum. I stumbled upon it after hearing about and Googling the "Childless Couples are Happier" study. I'm SO happy and relieved to find a place like this where it seems everyone is like-minded.

I'm 31, live in Boston, have been married (to my high school sweetheart) for 7 years, CF, work at one of the major investment companies and travel the world with my job.

There's so many things that I still don't understand about being CF, mainly having to do with all of the criticism I constantly endure. How, on one hand can people call my husband and I selfish, DINKs, say how lonely our life must be, etc., then on the other hand say "You're so lucky, I wish I could (fill in the blank) like you".

One thing I do know, is that I certainly stayed up late reading ALL of the articles written by Kim! I felt like they were ALL written specifically for ME! Thank you, Kim, and a big hello to everyone else!

Hi LM99!
Welcome to the site.
I hope you find it as refreshing, helpful and supportive as I do.
Love annika

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Hi LM99, and welcome to the forum.
Yes, it's great to know your own mind isn't it? Too bad that so many people can't just accept the choices that others make. Isn't it funny that nobody ever says to those who want kids 'oh, you'll change your mind eventually'?!
I guess it's probably similar for any person who goes against 'the norm'. I know a couple who are married but don't live together; they married late in life and have their own lives/homes in different countries. They travel over and back between here and the U.K. to visit each other. You can imagine the questions they get! I admire the fact that they're willing to go against the tide of disapproval they get from almost everyone. And they're happy; which is the most important thing.
Welcome again, and looking forward to reading your posts!

Thanks for the warm welcomes!

I see you are from Ireland and Australia! Two of my FAVORITE places in the world! I spent May in Dublin - best time ever, and July in Sydney, Melbin', and Cairns - our second trip out there in a year and hubby wants to move to Sydney!! My avitar pic is actually me on a Reef Island off of Cairns (that brown circle is an Aussie bush hat, NOT a pregnant stomach which someone actually asked me one time!) = )

Anywhoo... freespirit, I agree with you on people being jealous. In my head I usually want to say back "you could be exactly like me too, if you didn't pop a kid out immediately after getting married?" But I just can't be rude back and it's SO frustrating!

milly... it IS great to know my own mind. My boss, who's CF also said it perfectly one day: "Once you realize that you don't "have to" have a child, it's a really empowering feeling. The entire world is yours for the taking". He's so right. And you're right about saying "you'll change your mind eventually".

I grew up hearing "Don't have kids, they ruin your life" and "your father and I could have done so much if we didn't have you kids, we could have traveled the world, spent all our money on ourselves, bought expensive cars" from my mother. And you know what? She's 100% right. Granted, it was a [censored] thing for a kid to hear, but I'm living the life that she never did and loving every single day!

Welcome to the forum! This is a great place. It is really empowering, knowing you don't have to have kids. I love the Avatar picture! I would love to visit Australia and Ireland. At least I won't ever have to worry about kids ruining my travel budget!

[color:"orange"] I love to travel, also. I love to be able to travel at the tip of a hat without anything holding me down. Welcome to this forum. It's incredibly awesome. [/color]

Welcome, we're glad to see you!

Drop by any time! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi and WELCOME! I am new to these forums myself and also originally from Boston (just moved to the midwest). I don't quite understand why others feel they have the right to tell us how to live our lives? I guess the great thing is the older I got the more I realized I am entitled to do what I want with my life and am not obligated to follow others' views or opinions! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ish. Sorry 'bout the 'rents.

Mine were educated, traveled, worked, etc., even after having kids. Life's what you make of it--some are better at handling things than others.

I don't have kids because I don't want them.