This is really good! I love seeing your flip side post, too. All good things to keep in mind as a parent myself. Thanks!

Perfect! I especially relate to the one about not asking about reproductive plans. Kinda personal, no?

Thank you for posting this.

Love it! Well done, I totally agree with the updating fb everything your child does.. Jeeze is drives me nuts when people do that.

TIJDE, I totally agree. I don’t think it is right to assume that because I don’t have children I should be married to my career. I have a dog, a boyfriend, parents, siblings, nephews, and hobbies. These are things that I like to spend time with as well! Just because I have chosen not to have children yet does not mean that I am free to become a slave to my job.

You know what? I’ve had 4 kids- but I get some of the most AMAZING insights from 2 of my close friends that are child-free- one by choice, and one, well, not sure why but if she feels like talking about it, I’m here! I think the fact that they are not in it gives them an objectivity most parents have lost.

I especially appreciated the tip about cherishing the family you have. I’ve been trying to get pregnant for over a year, and it’s been hard. What makes it harder is hearing all of my friends who are parents complain constantly about the day to day details of parenting. I would love to have those problems, but I haven’t been that fortunate yet. It’s not that I’m not here for my friends when they need to vent, it’s just that I wish some parents would truly appreciate the gift they’ve been given.

YES to the comments mentioning that just because we don’t have children doesn’t mean we don’t have a lives outside of work. I recently started teaching for a college that does a lot of adult education classes on satellite campuses all over the region. I was told, straight up, “Well, you’re not married and you don’t have children, so we’re probably going to send you out to teach a few nights a week because other professors have requested that they be allowed to remain in the immediate area due to family obligations.” Thanks, guys. Now I’m never, ever home with my cats and my boyfriend and my garden, all because I didn’t shoot out a handful of kids as soon as I hit my 20s.

While your first article was about as ridiculous as they come, this one is no better. It sounds like a backhanded apology and “whoops, let me stick my foot in my mouth real quick”. Way to try to back pedal your way out of that one, but a simple apology would’ve sounded more sincere.

This is offensive.

I can’t stand both of these posts. Don’t like no it all parents/people without kids/dont like people in general…no one cares. Maybe if you didn’t air you’re entire families business all over the internet, you wouldn’t have this problem.

#1 most places I have ever worked…including a hospital, they want you there no matter what! My daughters whom have had jobs in their teens were expected to be at work even with a fever! Also, most nurses in a hospital don’t and aren’t respected for taking off for being sick, and may be told down right NO you have to come in and work…so we have what are called “mental days’ and that is when you call in sick, you can see why!
#2 I agree that when I am out with my kids, I try to be respectful of others. I rarely get out without my children to an expensive meal so yes when I am there I don’t want to hear other kids yelling and bouncing around their seats by me. I try to take my kids to noisy restaurants where it is more acceptable to be noisy and bouncy! However I am a little more patient because I understand. My husband who is a pilot is more understanding toward children on his airplanes because of his own children…there is a big difference pre and post children!
#3. This is one of my stronger but held inside not to offend anyone…most people who “chose” not to have any children (not saying it if they aren’t able to) have always been harder for me to get along with. I think we learn a lot about life because of children, We learn tolerance, patience, compassion etc from them that I know myself would not have if it weren’t for my little ones;) with love and respect to all! Raquel

I am enjoying the comments WAY more than the post! I had fertility issues for 9 straight yrs. but I had a loving husband and HUGE family to spend my life with, I hated having co workers make me feel less important cuz I didn’t have kids to spend my Christmas with. And that bit about don’t hover but the very next thing, watch your kid!!! Are you kidding me?!?!! I guess this is why people grow apart. I could never be friends with someone with this mentality.

The biggest thing that has always got me is the people that assume I know nothing about kids just because I don’t have my own yet. Hello, it doesn’t mean I don’t have any experience at all, and I might actually know what I’m talking about. Those little suggestions might actually make your life easier if you didn’t completely disregard anything I say about children. Those who actually give me the chance are usually pleasantly surprised.

im happy with no kids!! i chose not have them. I disagree with raquel wall. Just because you have kids that atumatically you will learn those traits! and just because you dont have them dosent mean you dont have does traits either. There are a lot of abusive people out there that have kids and did not learn anything!! I have a nephew and a niece to whom i love to death and would do anything for them!! :D

Most of my online fallowing/fb friends are all of our family who live 12 hours away from us. They see our kids once a year, if we’re lucky. Sometimes not even that often. So, my posting about the details and little things my kids do/say is how they ‘watch’ their grandkids, nieces, cousins etc grow. My childless friends understand that they are the minority on my page, and have never once complained. Do they hate how often I post about how potty training my youngest is going? Without a doubt. But that is stuff my family really appreciate, so that is stuff that will continue to be posted.

some of these are really sweet but some are obnoxious. I don’t really care what anyone thinks about me posting pics of my kids or their adventures online. Scroll past. It takes some hubris to think I should care what you think about that, I mean really! I can’t imagine telling someone what to or not to post. If I don’t like it I scroll past.

And while I understand we all want people with *manners* in restaurants, that does not exclude children. Nor does it always include adults. I do not care to listen to you blather on about your husband’s vasectomy on your cell phone while I’m dipping into my meal either.

Also, everyone needs to stop being so damn sensitive about people asking “do you have kids? do you want any? do you want more?” Unless they start making value judgements on you, it’s casual getting to know you conversation is all. Most people have kids or make a decision not to at some point, it’s something EVERYONE has gone over at some point in their head, whether to have kids, when, how many, etc. So it’s a common topic. Not EVERYONE who is asking thinks you’re some pariah if you answer you’re just not into that. So you promise to give me some good faith when I ask you, and I’ll give you some good faith when you say “REALLY?!” when I say I have four kids and assume you’re not implying I’m some irresponsible idiot or religious fundamentalist, m’kay?