Reasons I'm NOT having kids

@40withkatie

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Why it worked

The creator taps into a relatable and often controversial topic (child-free by choice) and expresses a strong, personal opinion that challenges societal norms. The direct address and conversational tone invite engagement and discussion in the comments.

Summary

The creator discusses the reactions she receives when people learn she does not want children. She finds it peculiar that people assume having children is a form of insurance for old age and states she would never expect her children to care for her, nor would she want them to sacrifice their lives for it.

Structure

1Introduction to the topic: people's reactions to her decision not to have children.
2Her personal stance: never wanting children.
3The common question: who will take care of her when she's older?
4Her perspective: children are not an insurance policy for old age.
5Her reasoning: not wanting to burden children, wanting them to live their own lives.
6Concluding thought: curiosity about other child-free people's experiences.

On-screen text

Reasons I'm NOT having kids Something that I genuinely do not understand are the reactions that I get from people when they learn that I don't want to have kids. And to be honest, I've never wanted kids. So at 42, I have had many years of people inserting their opinions and giving me all of the reasons why I should change my mind and choose to have children. But the one th is when they loo is when they look at me with genuine concern and ask, who's gonna take care of you when you get older? As if having children is some sort of insurance policy so you don't have to go into assisted living or a retirement home or a nursing home. Now, I understand there are cultural differences, but for me, having children so that they were to take care of me when I got older just seems so selfish. And even if I did have ki I would never expect that they take care of me when I got older. Not only that, but I wouldn't want them to take care of me when I got older. First of all, I would assume that by the time I'm elderly, my children are old enough to have a life of their own. I would also assume that that life includes a career, a spouse, maybe chi a family of their own. Perhaps they don't even live anywhere near me. Maybe they moved out of state or out of the country. And as t I would support th because I would want them to do what's best for them. I wouldn't want them to give up their life to come take care of me as I age. I want to maintain the parent child relationship even when they're adults. I don't want them to step into a caregiver role now. Also, it's highly un that they would be a medically trained person to be able to take care of me in the way that I would need. No, I absolutely would not put that burden on them. I would not add that stress on them. I would want them to enjoy the time that they got to spend with me, not feel stressed out by taking care of me. It is! But it does make me curious to hear from the other child free by choice people. I would love to kno some of the unhinged reasons people have given you to try to change your mind on having kids.

Original caption

I’m not sure why people feel so embolden to insert their opinions on my decision to be child free. Anyone else get people trying to convince you otherwise? #childfreebychoice #childfreemillennial #childfree #childfreetiktok #childfreelife

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Transcript

Something that I genuinely do not understand are the reactions that I get from people when they learn that I don't want to have kids. And to be honest, I've never wanted kids. So at 42, I have had many years of people inserting their opinions and giving me all of the reasons why I should change my mind and choose to have children. But the one that just really gets me is when they look at me with genuine concern and ask, who's gonna take care of you when you get older? As if having children is some sort of insurance policy so you don't have to go into assisted living or a retirement home or a nursing home. Now, I understand there are cultural differences, but for me, having children so that they were to take care of me when I got older just seems so selfish. And even if I did have kids, I would never expect that they take care of me when I got older. Not only that, but I wouldn't want them to take care of me when I got older. First of all, I would assume that by the time I'm elderly, my children are old enough to have a life of their own. I would also assume that that life includes a career, a spouse, maybe children, a family of their own. Perhaps they don't even live anywhere near me. Maybe they moved out of state or out of the country. And as their parents, I would support that because I would want them to do what's best for them. I wouldn't want them to give up their life to come take care of me as I age. I want to maintain the parent child relationship even when they're adults. I don't want them to step into a caregiver role now. Also, it's highly unlikely that they would be a medically trained person to be able to take care of me in the way that I would need. No, I absolutely would not put that burden on them. I would not add that stress on them. I would want them to enjoy the time that they got to spend with me, not feel stressed out by taking care of me. It is! But it does make me curious to hear from the other child free by choice people. I would love to know some of the unhinged reasons people have given you to try to change your mind on having kids.