is a kid worth it?? NOT FOR US ❌❌❌

The decision of whether or not to have children is a personal one, and there is no right or wrong answer. Some people feel called to parenthood, while others simply don't want the responsibility of raising a child — the latter is me.

Two Lemon8 posts ago, I shared about our top 3 reasons we decided to not have a kid, and someone correctly pointed out that loneliness as we age is a common fear, which inspired this follow up post 🍋

Before we came to the crucial conclusion that we'll highly likely not have a kid, we explored the multiple pros and cons of not having kids. Here are our top considerations 🧐

✅ DISPOSABLE INCOME ✅

One of the biggest benefits of being childfree is the financial freedom it gives you. You don't have to worry about the cost of raising a child, which can be astronomical. You can also save for retirement (FIRE!!!), travel the world, or invest in your own business.

❌ LONELINESS ❌

On the other hand, all the money in the world cannot buy you company. One of the biggest concerns people have about not having kids is that they'll be lonely later in life. However, there are plenty of ways to avoid loneliness as a childfree person — you can adopt a pet, join clubs or groups, or volunteer your time. I personally felt like my potential loneliness was not a good enough reason to justify bringing a life into this world.

✅ FREEDOM TO TRAVEL & PERSUE YOUR OWN INTERESTS ✅

When you don't have kids, you have a lot more freedom to travel and pursue your own interests. You can go on spontaneous trips, take long weekends away, or even move to a new country. You don't have to worry about finding a babysitter or disrupting your child's education.

❌ PRESSURE FROM SOCIETY ❌

*Cues nagging from your elderly relatives* Although we're in the 21st century, there is still a lot of pressure in society to have kids. Every CNY, you'll probably be asked why you don't have children, or you may be made to feel like you're missing out on something. However, it's important to remember that you don't have to justify your decision to anyone.

✅ PEACE OF MIND ✅

Being childfree can give you a lot of peace of mind. You don't have to worry about your child's future, their health, their safety or an endless laundry list of things parents rightfully worry about. You can relax and enjoy your life without having to worry about anyone else.

❌ REGRET ❌

Some people who choose not to have kids later regret their decision — this is exactly why it's important to make the decision carefully and to be sure that it's the right one for you. But as I mentioned in my previous post, in my opinion, it's better to regret not having a kid than regret having one. The former is more reversible (though adoption or spending time with little ones through your family or friends).

CONCLUSION 💁‍♀️

There are both pros and cons to not having kids, and there is no right or wrong to this. It's important to weigh the factors carefully and to make the decision that's right for you. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to have kids is a personal one; what's right for one person may not be right for another.

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