No kids, no problem.
A New Yorker named Natalie has responded to critics who called her “selfish” for not bearing children, saying that she prefers to be “the fun auntie.”
“I hear the question, ‘Who’s going to take care of you when you’re older?’ a lot. I don’t agree with that,” the 38-year-old paralegal and caregiver for her father told Newsweek.
“You shouldn’t have kids just to ensure someone will take care of you later in life, that’s a huge burden to place on them. It’s important to make decisions based on what’s best for your life, not out of fear of the future.”
She has been told that her life will have “no meaning” if she doesn’t have kids, an idea she finds “frustrating.” She argued that fulfillment doesn’t only come from parenthood.
“I used to believe that getting married and having kids were essential milestones for a meaningful life,” said Natalie, who was previously “on the fence” about having children of her own years ago.
“However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that this isn’t the case. My life holds meaning on my own terms, and I’ve learned that fulfillment doesn’t depend on meeting society’s traditional expectations.”
The backlash for her choice to be childless came after her TikTok video on the subject matter went viral this month.
“Comments that I get when I say I don’t want kids: ‘You sound so miserable,” she said in the clip, which was captioned, “Call me selfish idc.”
“So miserable in my business class seat on a random Wednesday flying to Europe,” she said sarcastically. “Yeah I’m so miserable that I don’t have kids.”
She argued that she can only afford to pay for herself to go on vacation alone — with a shopping budget, of course — and will happily reside in a nursing home when she’s elderly.
But critics were quick to chastise Natalie in the comments, while many other childfree women championed her reasoning.
“It’s all fun until you realize you have lived an empty life, that you have filled with things,” one user snarked. “Not being able to have kids is one thing, but shaming people that want is not right as well.”
“I don’t understand why ppl take others not wanting kids SO personal. If they’re jealous they should just say that,” chided another person.
“People are just mad you were not brainwashed and indoctrinated into thinking about woman’s value is only as a mother or wife,” argued someone else.
“Girl I have 4. I love them but DONT do it,” warned one mom.
“I have children. However, I’m so proud of this generation of women that have actually THOUGHT about having kids. Not merely having them as a ‘natural’ progression of life or obligation,” cheered another.
Natalie told Newsweek that living her life on her “own terms” challenges societal norms, “which might make some people uncomfortable.”
“It’s your life, so don’t let societal pressure push you into something you may regret. Having kids is a lifelong commitment, and it’s a choice that should be made with intention — not just to conform to the idea that motherhood is the only path to a meaningful life,” she said.
“I believe it’s more selfish to have kids for the wrong reasons than choosing not to have them.”
