BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Newbie from Tennessee

Hi, all! Just joined, and this looks like a great place to hang out. I'm 41, married with no kids (but four adorable, spoiled cats). I'm a novelist, and I love garden and to hike in the mountains. I have young people in my life (a stepdaughter, now grown, though she was 13 when I came into her life) and recently a sweet baby nephew, but I've never wanted kids of my own. And I've never regretted my decision. I'm happy to meet you all, and I look forward to participating in the BellaOnline forums.

Welcome, Thomma! I hope you like it here =)

Thanks, on_a_roll! And your avatar is great -- I love Tori Amos's music. :)

Welcome, Thomma Lyn! I'm a newbie here too after finding this site and lurking for a while. Nice to see so many like-minded people and I've enjoyed the thoughtful posts. BTW, I dig Tori too!

Sweet! Tori is amazing!

Hi, Periwinkle! Thanks for the welcome, and welcome to you, too. :)

Hi Thomma Lyn, welcome! How lovely you have joined. Isn't this a wonderful place?! I have three (very misbehaved ...so just as well I do not have kids) cats. They are a bit like my babies. Spoiled ones at that! It is lovely to hear from someone a bit further along (I am 32) who made the desicion and has never regretted it. All the people I talk to in my own life, do want or have kids and they seem to think I will live to regret this and become a lonely old person one day who has not had a complete and fullfilling life... XX Faeryqueen

Welcome!

Thanks for the welcome, Faeryqueen and Wonderwoman13! Yeah, my four kitties are very much like my furkids. But better than human kids 'cause they don't interrupt me when I'm at work on my writing. Well, at least not much. Once in a while somecat will walk across the keyboard and contribute something like "sdfljkafdhaf". Ha! ;) It does indeed feel good to be 41 and have no regrets about the procreation thing. I was what some people call an "early articulator" -- I knew from a young age that I didn't want kids, but so many people tell us childfree "you'll regret it" that there was a small part of me that wondered. But the way I handled that was I realized that I would rather regret NOT having a child than regret having had one. Sure 'nuff, no regrets. And I don't expect any. It's funny how some people think that you have to have a child to lead a full life. There are so many, many things people can do to have full and satisfying lives that touch others in meaningful ways besides giving birth to and raising biological children. It's great to be here -- I'm enjoying this forum.

Welcome