BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Most Annoying Responses to the Child-free Choice?

Most annoying response...probably "Oh well you don't know that" or "You'll change your mind later" Those are responses that always pi$$ me off. Not only is it condescending but it's like they've totally disregarded all your years of thinking and searching as nothing more than a whim. All the years I spent pondering over whether I wanted kids or not, has be shoved aside and my choice colored the shade of youthful whimsy. I'm not that short sighted or whimsical that I'd make this type of decision so lightly, and people brushing it off as such is nothing more than a total lack of respect.

Cream pie- I hear you! Isn't it more selfish of a complete stranger to walk up to Someone they don't even know and upon learning that they don't want kids, act like they should have kids for the sake of some stranger?! People don't find that reasoning selfish in itself?

Jennifer B.- my reasons exactly. I find that phrase both condescending and unreasonable. They don't know me, what right do they have to tell me what will or will not happen later in life.

I actually really like this question from people because I can really mess with minds if it's a stranger. I love to spin horrible tales of illness, death and disfigurement. It freakin' serves them right for asking such personal questions of a stranger.

People who know me even remotely, only ask this question once. I tell them working for years with critically ill children made me realize how terrible the world is and that I don't want to bring new children into it.

I don't get asked about it much but I would usually get the you'll change your mind bit. Most of the time if I get asked if I have kids or not is when I work with new coworkers I haven't worked with before. They usually ask just to make conversation.

A small number might ask why and when I tell them I have no desire they usually don't say anything else. Because of the nature of our job (I travel a lot about 3-6 days out of the week) they understand the difficulty of having young children with what we do.

Usually my coworkers are young and don't have children yet or they are older and have grown children because it's easier to be away from home with our jobs.