Would You Be Happier Without Children?

Good for you to all the parents having that fulfilling feeling of happiness just by being parents! Parent is hold and emotionally draining. Unless of course you view kids as pets that can care for themselves. I have many friends with that mentally. I have two girls ages 6 and 11yrs old. My 6yr old has severe cp and requires nursing care 24hrs a day! My 11yr old is healthy thank god. Being a parent is the hardest job ever! Its hard more so to the parent doing most of the work. Look around you. Look into the child less humans they always sleep soundly at night. They have no one to worry but themselves. Good parents have that constant worry. I love my girls! However, I believe child less equals happiness. Let's be honest. No one realizes it til you become a parent and see how it really is. Also, parents are to embarrassed to admit it to themselves much less verbally say it!

My husband and I are going to have to go through Invitro fertilization in order to have children. We plan on doing it in January. I have always wanted children but now that it may be fixing to happen I am a little nervous. I still want kids but I am trying to prepare myself incase it Invitro doesn't work for us. To prepare myself, I start thinking about the things I could do without children, the kind of life I could have. I would be able to concentrate on my career, do a lot of traveling, and become closer to my husband. I know a child can change your relationship, and my husband and I's relationship may be so strong because we dont have children. But I still want children more than anything!

Would you be happier without your kids? It really depends on how you define hapiness. Your life is definetely not the same once you have them...however it is very rewarding. Not everyone is prepared to give up so much and have kids, and articles like this are great to show them that parenting is not for everyone. Just my opinion.

I thank God every day I do not have children. I work with them every day at school and I love all of my students, even the difficult ones, but I am blessed to come home to peace and quiet and being an introvert, I love the fact that I am not forced to make friends with people whom I wouldn't want my child to associate with, let alone myself.

However, everything ain't for everyone. Love peace and happiness to those with kids!

I think all the time about the time BK (before kids-as my husband likes to call it) and about now, how my 3 sons are 19, 18 and 15. I don't know how I would be doing (happy or sad) or what I would be doing in my life (work and home) but I know that we tried for 3 years to have kids and I had began to think that we would be one of those couples that can not have kids, that when I found out I was finally really pregnant I could not believe it. Since I found out I was pregnant with my first son, I dedicated my entire life to them, sure I had to work hard and long hours to help support them, I missed alot of their growing up years and we constantly talk of the memories we do have together (my husband and sons) and the only thing I would change now if I could is spend more time with them. They would drive me nuts, and when they would get hurt or sick I worried so much, and we had times that we did not know how they would grow up, but through all the hard, bad times, they made me complete. I would go straight home from work just so I could be there for them, even when they were with friends, I just wanted to see their smiles, laugh and hear them talking. BUT, there are people who are not meant to be parents, or have kids just to get "things" and those people should NOT have kids EVER. I know a few of those people who have kids and mistreat them and do not appreciate them at all. I believe some people are just meant to be happy without, while others truly love children and can appreciate the true blessing and love that God has given them. For those who want kids but can not have any, I understand a little, I myself went through that for 3 years and thank God everyday, it was just preparing me for a real blessing from God, 3 healthy, smart and loving sons.

36 years old, married 17 years, never wanted kids, and still don't. I am perfectly happy with my life. Why do people with kids keep trying to convince me I am unhappy because I don't have them? Not everyone was cut out to be a parent. Believe me, I see people out in public all the time who have no business reproducing. As for me, I just wasn't cut out for it. I don't feel that need to take care of another human being for the rest of my life. It just isn't something that appeals to me. And I am sick of being made out the villian for it.

Sun2go I totally agree with you. I am one of those people that love my boy but neither me nor my husband can stand other kids. And I dont blame the kids themselves for that, I blame the parents that chose to have more then they can handle and release little monsters into society in the form of spoiled selfish brats. So we are a one child household and that will be it for us. I love him with all my heart but completely applaude our friends, and all others, who say that their life is just fine without kids. Better to few, and loved by many, then to many who are loved by to few.

Nope, not a chance, my son has made my life incredible.

Being a parent is something I always knew that I wanted. I would not give up my two wonderful boys for anything...not my previos freedoms or pre-baby body. They are truly gifts from God and have brought more love and joy to our life than I ever realized was possible, despite the physical and mental exauhstion that comes with raising two boys, 18 months apart, and the younger one having autism. I would in no way be happier without them, and I am sure that when they are grown, and I have more time to myself, I will miss them terribly.

We worked REALLY hard to have kids (we almost missed the boat too). They are the best thing that has happened in my life and have given my life meaning. But I gotta admit, parenting isn't for everyone.

I actually don't think I would be happier without my little boy. I know this sound s bad but I feel like he gives me more than I could ever give him. He changed my life. Before him I was going to clubs and drinking 5-6 nights a WEEK. I was self-centered and didn't care about the world. I was selfish and battling a great deal with bulimia nervosa. After him...everything changed. I don't drink or party anymore, even though I do still go out with friends for movie or dinner dates. I have been able to control my emotional eating problems like never before b/c I know that I'm not living just for myself anymore. I care about the people around me and the world more than ever...I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way :)

Valerie, Victoria and Classy got it right. I love my kids more than I can describe (and more than I ever thought I would). You exchange one set of joys for another. They are a lot of work but a lot of fun.

Having kids isn't for everyone, but for most of us, a worthwhile sacrifice. Those without kids can't really know the feeling. And those of us with kids can't fully express what it means. Once you have them, you just know.

absolutely not. all my relatives have passed and they are all i have i thank God for my 4 children every day.

"I never wanted/want to lose MY identity with children or a man for that matter."

If you are afraid of loosing your identity to children or a man, perhaps you're not as confident and self-certain as you think.

" I truly believe brings life full circle"

Would you all STOPP using that dumb phrase "full circle"? It annoys me and I'm sure more than half of you don't even know what it means, and CANNOT apply it to having kids!

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I'm in my mid-fourties and have no desire now or have i ever to have children.
It's funny because men and women I know envy me for my choice.
they say I'm the smart one.
but the funny thing is kids love me and my husband all my nieces and nephews want to come stay at our house.I don't mind one night but after that off to your mommies and daddies

the only thing better than having kids , is making them !!!

This will sound weird but i'm a kid a mature kid.I'm just heartbroken hearing this ive always tried to make life easy for my parents.I'm just sick of hearing oh life would be better with out kids.oh kids don't understand.You know not all kids are bratty and the same.I have some friends that don't act all goofy we do not beg for so much.We try so hard to be good but people are still saying things.And to you I happen to only be 10 and yet im trying to speak for kids.This hurts.No my parents did not make me say all this I feel to.If you ever have one moment when your annoyed just speak to our kid maybe it is not them its you that makes them act like this or who knows.

I love my daughter, now 14, with all of my heart...however, if I had to do it all over again, I know I would have waited for at least another ten years or would not have had her at all...