“Live YOUR best life.”

Childfree Story: Kristen, 64, USA

Photo by Zoë Noble

“I knew I didn’t want kids from a very young age. I grew up in a loving home with caring parents but was one of those kids who always preferred adults and never really fit into any peer group.

I have two younger sisters who were very difficult for my parents to raise and that contributed to my decision more and more as time went on. We didn’t have much money and seeing my folks struggling to make ends meet all the time with three kids they could barely afford was influential.

My parents had a childfree couple they socialised with regularly and I was always intrigued with their lives. I asked my mother about why they didn’t have kids and she told me people who don’t have kids have something wrong with them. What I saw were two people with lots of freedom and time for their art and travel and pets. I wanted THAT.

Being childfree meant I could develop the animal rescue I wanted and have had for over 25 years. I’ve been happily married for 35 years and we travel the world together. No regrets. Ever. Especially after seeing the trials and trauma my sisters eventually had with their own kids. We have freedom and self-determination that is hard to beat.

The friends I have made along the way in this journey have been good people who really don’t question why we don’t talk about grandchildren constantly. I’ve had jobs when I was in my 20s where I had to constantly defend why I wasn’t getting pregnant but that faded over time as I got older.

I am so very happy that this lifestyle choice is finally becoming normalised. Not everyone should have kids. I learned and saw that in spades growing up. It should be obvious. But it’s not. Live YOUR best life.” ⁠