Why Am I Selfish For Not Having Children?

Angry woman asking why we are selfish not to have kids

Hi there and welcome BACK to my blog! Oh, you’re new? Hello! Nice to see you! So today, I want to talk about a controversial issue. What’s that, you ask? Well, today I want to talk about the decision to have children. Or in my case, the decision NOT to have children. And the idea that I’m selfish for NOT having children. Which brings me to today’s burning question…why am I selfish for NOT having children? Why is anyone? Furthermore, why is this anyone’s business?

What Is Selfish About Not Having Children?

If you’re a longtime reader, you might remember me talking about this in a previous blog. But let me recap for the new folks around here.

First of all, I knew at a VERY young age I didn’t want children.

Why? BECAUSE I DON’T LIKE KIDS!!! There. I said it. Call me a monster if you want, but that will NEVER change. I hated babysitting. I never grew up playing “house” with a baby doll. In fact, dolls bored me to TEARS, to my mother’s chagrin.

But even so, I never got pressured about having babies, which is a GOOD thing. In fact, the very IDEA of pregnancy scared me to death. Believe me when I tell you that as soon as birth control was available, I got ON IT. When people asked me if I was EVER having kids?

Have children? That's a negative ghost rider. DO NOT WANT
The pattern is full.

Now that I’m an adult, I’ll be frank with you all. In that, babies terrify me. I find small children NOT CUTE. You know how when a toddler smiles and waves at you from a shopping cart? My first instinct is to flip said toddler the finger. Not that I ever WOULD, because that’s frowned upon.

Apparently.

But I mean seriously, GET IT AWAY FROM ME. I put small children on about the same par as annoying little barky dogs. At least with a dog, you can let it out in the yard for awhile. UNSUPERVISED. Can you do this with children? NO! Not unless you want them eating dirt and God knows what else.

So if I Don’t Like Kids, WHY TF Would I Want One?

Let me also say that NOTHING and I mean NOTHING irritates me more than children SCREAMING. Children are LOUD. They SMELL. They are STICKY. Icky things come out of them. They are NOT CUTE. YOU might think your kid is cute, but I generally do NOT. With VERY few exceptions. And quite frankly I find 99% of children abhorrent. I DO NOT want them in my personal space.

Have I made myself clear yet? I HAVE AN EXTREME DISLIKE FOR CHILDREN. And while some babies ARE cute, please don’t bring yours near me. I am a klutz of the first order. Trust and believe, you do NOT want me holding your baby. I can’t afford to get you a new one if I drop it and break it, okay? So let’s not even GO there.

Also? If it throws up on me, I’m yeeting that baby INTO THE SUN.

Cinderella running away from Prince Charming
Prince Charming must’ve mentioned he wanted kids.

Are we getting the idea yet? If I feel this way about kids, SOMEONE TELL ME WHY IN THE HELL I WOULD EVER WANT ONE? Why would I bring a something into this world I do not want, and would not like? Can someone help me understand how this is selfish?

“Oh It’s Different When You Have Your Own.”

IS it now. I LOVE it when people tell me this. First of all? I’m kind of an asshole. I might pass those asshole genes to my kid. So unless you can GUARANTEE ME within a SHADOW of a doubt I’m going to like my own kid, SHUT THE FUCK UP. Because don’t think THAT hasn’t crossed my mind. I mean, WHAT IF I didn’t like my own kid? Or I RESENTED it. Which I would. Because I’d feel like it was being FORCED on me. By society.

Man saying EWW.
My sentiments exactly.

NO THANK YOU.

So again, help me understand. If I HATE KIDS, and don’t WANT kids, and know I’d RESENT raising a child, HOW IS THIS SELFISH OF ME TO NOT HAVE ONE?

So How Am I Selfish For Not Wanting Children? Help Me Understand.

So, society means to tell me that in trying to save my unborn, unconceived child from a life of being hated and resented, I’m a monster. And a selfish one at that! How do I know? Because GOD FORBID you tell someone you don’t want children because YOU HATE KIDS, you’re looked at like you have two heads. Trust me, I know. This has happened to me more times than I can count.

That is, until I learned to put a slightly pained but wistful expression on my face and say, oh, kids weren’t in the cards for me.

BUT WHY TF SHOULD I HAVE TO DO THAT? And why does that make me any less of a woman than one who’s popped out a few brats?

SPOILER: IT DOES NOT.

I AM NOT MY UTERUS. MY WOMANHOOD DOES NOT DEPEND ON PROCREATION.

In the past, society dictated that any woman without children is somehow less-than. Which is complete and total bullshit, and so is being regarded as a monster. Or again, that I or ANY OTHER WOMAN CHOOSING TO BE CHILD FREE is SELFISH. THAT is the one thing I cannot comprehend. Because I chose NOT to bring another life into this world? Because I wasn’t sure that I could take care of it? Mainly because I can barely take care of MYSELF? And that’s selfish? REALLY?

Sure Jan, but I'd rather not have kids.

I don’t think I can roll my eyes any harder at THAT bit of bullshit logic.

For Many, Having Children is NOT On the Agenda

Fortunately for me, the decision NOT to have children is becoming standard, especially by millenials and Gen Z. According to CNBC, this is due to the pandemic and the expense. Kids are EXPENSIVE! A lot of Gen Z’ers simply don’t want to bring a child into this dumpster fire of a world, and I can’t blame them. And personally, I think this is a wise decision.

It is NOT SELFISH at ALL to NOT want to bring an innocent life into this uncertain world. PERIOD. Especially if YOU KNOW you do NOT have the time, money, or energy to devote to that life. Also? NOT EVERYONE WANTS TWO OR THREE CROTCH-GOBLINS RUNNING AROUND. And you know what? That’s okay.

If I’m Selfish For Not Having Children, That’s Fine.

And as for why that’s selfish?

Well, until someone can answer this question for me, WITH AN ACTUAL SENSE-MAKING REPLY, I’m calling bullshit. If someone wants to tell me I’m selfish for not popping out a crotch-goblin or two, fine. I’m over it. I don’t get it, but at this point, I don’t care. I DO like knowing the WHYs of things, however. And this is a WHY I’d really like to know because that thought process of “have kids or you’re a selfish asshole” has never, EVER made sense to me.

But for what it’s worth, I did hear ONE weak-ass explanation on Twitter for why this might be. APPARENTLY, because there are SO many women who CAN’T have children, it is selfish of ME as an able-bodied breeder to NOT have a child.

So I'm selfish for not having kids. Okay then.
That makes about as much sense as a square marble, but okay.

Well, listen. I tell you all what. If I could donate my uterus to the cause, I’d do it in a HOT ASS MINUTE. Because I’M certainly not using it. I wish I could put an ad on Craigslist: VINTAGE UTERUS IN PRISTINE CONDITION. NEVER USED! NO MILEAGE! YOU PICK UP, NO DELIVERY.

Ha ha, get it? NO DELIVERY? Okay okay, that was terrible. Funny, but terrible.

But I digress.

Final Thoughts On The Subject of Children

Look, children aren’t for everybody. Not EVERYBODY loves kids and wants them. That’s not selfish. In fact, I think choosing a child-free life is the OPPOSITE of selfish. Especially when I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I’d be a crappy parent. After all, WHY would I want to raise a child in an atmosphere of anger and resentment? Why would anyone?

So to those who might want to call me selfish, well, that’s fine. I can’t control what you think. But before you call me or any other woman who wants the child-free life selfish, consider something. Are we? Are we really? Why do you think so? And why does it matter? And unless YOU’RE planning on birthing, raising, and paying for that kid (or kids) for the rest of its life, MIND YOUR BUSINESS. The contents of my uterus are NOT your concern. In fact, MY BODY, MY CHOICE. Which includes the choice NOT to have children. See how that works?

And hopefully, the rest of society will get with the program sooner than later.

Loving my child-free life,
Meredith Silverman

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Vanessa

    It’s been a while since anyone called me outright “selfish” for not wanting to have kids, but I find that getting older has helped me not give a shit if anyone thinks that anyway. People may mistake my childfree lifestyle for selfishness, but I’m probably doing the same thing watching them work out their insecurities, unresolved issues, and unrealized dreams on their kids. Seeing enough of this has convinced me that the people who choose not to have kids are by and large the unselfish ones – the ones who have the self-awareness to know what they cannot do for another life. The ones who DON’T know this invariably end up with kids, and because of that we are already living in an Idiocracy.

    1. Meredith Silverman

      OMG OMG OMG OMG! I’d be screaming “YAAAAAAAAAAAAS” right now except it’s 6:09 AM and well you know, I don’t want to be being all loud at this hour of the morning. But I could NOT agree with you more. Funny-I’ve been saying we’ve been approaching Idiocracy for the past few years and now…yeah, we are squarely in it. And now that I’m the age that kids aren’t even an option, well, that helps. Love you lady!

  2. Denice Garcia

    Your next response to anyone that has the GALL to call you selfish is this…
    YOU pay taxes that send OTHER people’s children to school and alllll the other child services that you will NEVER take advantage of. So, think about it, you SELFLESSLY give to society (even though you don’t have a choice 😂) to help make the next generation a better place.
    Love to you girl!

    1. Meredith Silverman

      Holy cow, DD, I never ever even THOUGHT about it that way! Thanks for that! Love right back to you!

  3. denise goldens

    Meredith, your genuine REALness is like a lake of fresh water in the desert!! You’re wonderful, your profile in twitter very similar to mine- instead of autism i have other issues. Straight but LGBTQ friendly. I chose to never have kids because i never wanted to treat anyone the way my mother treated me. It was like something out of Tennessee Williams. Emotional & verbal abuse to the level of the surreal. Constant criticism, even though i took care of her for 29 years because of her multiple heart attacks. After 60 years of being an 8 pack a day smoker, except when in ICU, she decreased to 5 packs then shortly thereafter died. Once an abundance of narcissism intel began appearing throughout media & news I realized that was what my mom was- high on the malignant narcissistic spectrum. Wish i could have known that 50 years ago, i would have been able to diagnose her & find peace sooner. Post it notes on bathroom mirror say “forgive yourself”, “be your own best friend” & “you wouldn’t let anyone treat your dogs that way, DON’T let them treat you that way!” I never for one second wanted children. Easily the easiest NO i ever said. Now w/human population skyrocketing past 8 billion soon to be 9 then 10….I love NOT being part of the problem. Have always been owned by dogs. At 6 a family friend said i chose good names for my dogs, what would i name my kids someday? I said i would only have kids if they could be puppies, otherwise forget it. That stopped the convo. My mom said she needed me to take care of her, i didn’t need to have kids. To be fair, she was intelligent & non-religious, i really tried to be friends w/her. But that was Rita, friendship only went one way– to her. When i hear stories of overly religious & evangeliban parents, i miss my mom’s sarcastic wit & realize how lucky i am my mom wasn’t religious. I’ve definitely had a better life for not having kids. & had a lighter climate footprint. & had more time for my dogs, to help rescue other dogs, to read, write, sleep in sometimes, draw, play piano, R & R……Best thing i ever didn’t do. Thank you, mom, you did me a favor. Though i’m a widow now, i enjoyed a wonderful 11 years w/my husband because i didn’t want or have kids. No regrets. Dodged a lethal bullet. Republicans are decimating womens rights now, insisting women’s lives be defined by rape, incest or an impulsive mistake. How dare they! I feel so sorry for young women now. May the religious hypocrites of the world get the karma they deserve. & may the rest of us be free from them & live better lives.

    1. Meredith Silverman

      Oh my gracious, what a lovely, well thought out comment!! Thank you so much for such an amazing response, and I really appreciate everything you said!!

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