Childless: Some by Chance, Some by Choice

The Washington Post ^ | 11/28/06 | Nancy Rome

[wideawake]

It's not a given than any of them used contraception either. They could have eschewed natural intercourse altogether.

But there are quite a few women out there who aborted children in their college years and then found themselves unable to have children by the time they were married, in their late 30s and "ready" for kids.

There are a number of different reasons why so many people are childless and abortion is indubitably a prominent member of that group of reasons.

[two134711]

Abortion is birth control.

[ArrogantBustard]

There are selfish twits in this world. Perhaps even some on this thread. There are mentally ill folks who really shouldn't have children. There are Ba'al worshippers who killed their children. There are folks who desperately want to have children, but are unable due to illness, injury, or defect.

Meanwhile, welfare mom who sits at home pumps out 5 or 6.

Our governmnent subsidises bastardy, and discourages responsible parenthood through confiscatory taxation. It is no wonder that we have too much of the former, and too little of the latter.

[Poser]

I'm 55 and we've never had any kids. I figured I would be just like my parents and I wouldn't wish that on any kid.

It's never been a problem and I don't feel the least bit guilty. I can't count the number of times I've heard this sentence, "I love my kids and am glad I had them, but if I had it to do all over again, I might do what you did."

So I say to all of you parents out there. Thanks for a difficult job well done. If your baby wants to scream at a restaurant, more power to you. I envy your patience and willpower when your teenager takes the car or your daughter goes out on a date.

[trisham]

She is a bitter over the hill female that is in menopause. She can't have her own kids and HATES others that have them. Her clock stopped ticking so her rage kicks in on what she can't have and THEY HAVE!

***********

She is probably all those things, and it's a shame.

Still, I can't help but feel sorry for her.

[ichabod1]

There was a family of 8 kids in front of me at church the other day. It was really a surprise because I haven't seen that large a sibling cohort in quite some time. I don't even see it at church much, and I'm Catholic. And it was pretty obvious they were all by the same parents. It was cool, but kind of like looking at Amish people or something.

[linda_22003]

(Pointing finger) Anchor babies! Anchor babies! :)

[pa mom]

Some may use abortion for birth control. But I was referring to condoms, the pill and such. Or do you mean that birth control is abortion? I don't get the gist here.

[Tax-chick]

I guess I just don't get out enough! Not invited to work functions, not invited to baby showers ... and nobody in the Wal-mart line asks if I have any children, because I almost always have some of them with me. (And when I don't, an employee will say, "I've never seen you without your children!")

[wideawake]

It's sad that it is that rare. Hopefully my wife and I will be blessed with that many children by the time our family stops growing.

I know several Catholic families like that, one Protestant family like that, and about 20 Jewish families like that (I live near Lakewood, NJ which has America's largest Orthodox yeshiva).

[trisham]

It's one thing to ask people IF they have children, but once having learned someone doesn't, to ask WHY is beyond the boundaries of civil discourse. If they get a lecture on blocked tubes, recurrent miscarriage, high FSH, azoospermia, failed IVF cycles, etc., they had it coming (and aren't likely to ask anyone this question ever again).

*************

LOL! Good idea.

[gdani]

I dearly love my assorted nieces and nephews and I'm a "favorite" to them...and I just don't wish to have children of my own. The number of people who are rudely inclined to ask why is simply outrageous.

Indeed.

[two134711]

Birth control is simply what it is: a method to prevent birth. There are benign methods, such as abstinence and condoms, questionable methods such as hormones and undoubtedly evil methods such as abortion. If you refer to birth control and say "I only meant condoms and pills" then you do not give a complete picture on the many reasons people choose not to have children.

[ichabod1]

One for Mom, and One for Dad, and One for Uncle Sam.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Nonstatist]

national obsession with motherhood

As opposed to a national obsession with death ? Could she have substituted another word for obsession, like maybe fascination or enthrallment or interest? Is it just me, or does it seems like she has a beanpole up her butt?

I'd say this harridan has a few issues, fer sure.

[Southerngl]

>>>There is only one woman that I think negatively of that doesn't have children. A male friend of ours got married to this woman. She doesn't want to work. She doesn't want to have kids. All she does is shop. She also doesn't want her husband doing anything with his friends after work. Talk about selfish. I can't stand her.>>>

That is a whole nother ball o'wax. She is just plain selfish.

[Niteranger68]

Couple A: "You two should have kids".

Couple B: "Well you two shouldn't have kids".

[Last Laugh]

We made different choices, but I respect her for her choices.

I think that is the way it should be.

If a woman can be considered selfish for not having children, I think it would be fair to add those that DO have children for the wrong reasons.

How many women have children because its expected and then resent them? What is right about that?

Why does the name andrea yates come to my mind? Or that girl who drove the car in the lake with her children in it because her "boyfriend" did not want kids?

[Last Laugh]

If only that were true, but you've seen how free some people feel to make holier-than-thou judgments about other people's decisions on whether to be parents or not, right here on this thread.

Pathetic isn't it?

I have made peace with not having children, too bad there are those that can not leave well enough alone.