I Don't like Kids. There. I Said It

Last week I received an interesting email from a reader about some of the dynamics behind being childfree. She has observed that women who have chosen to be childfree often feel the need to profess how much they love and enjoy kids, but that they just don't want any. Her question was: "Where are all the women who actually don't like kids? I can't be the only one." She went on to say, "There seems to be a belief that not liking kids = bad person. The fact that I have a college degree, have been gainfully employed since high school, volunteer to feed the hungry at Thanksgiving...all of it is brushed aside as meaningless because I don't like kids. I also wouldn't want an elephant, because it doesn't fit into my lifestyle."

I'm sure she's not the only one who doesn't like kids, either. I've come across a few. I've actually uttered those words myself, usually half-jokingly. Half-jokingly because there are lots of kids I do like...just not all of them. Since I don't really have a strong opinion about this, I thought it would be great for her to write a guest post on this very topic.

Here's what Nissa has to say:

I recently attended the baby shower of a friend I've had for over a decade. As I struggled to smile through the "pass the diaper" game while kids ran in and out of the room, I could see that I was the only one who was uncomfortable. The others cheerfully spoke over the banging of the toys, the shrieking, and the drone of the kids' video. I had to fight a desire to run to my car and drive to my peaceful post-divorce, childfree home.

This wasn't always the case. In spite of all the realistic career, financial, environmental and overpopulation reasons to not have children, I grew up thinking I'd be like everyone else. I did get married. However, when I spent time around my friends' kids I noticed….it wasn't fun. I wasn't having that "oh aren't they cute" feeling. The feeling I got was, "no thanks, I think I'll pass" and "how soon can I leave?" Read more: http://eleanorewells.com/i-dont-like-kids-there-i-said-it/