You Don't Have Kids!: Embracing A Child-Free Life: Hilarious Truths, Unfiltered Wisdom, And Why Fulfillment Comes In Many Forms

by Lena Worthy

The idea that only parents experience true exhaustion is just another way of creating a divide where there doesn’t need to be one.

And while the social media sphere often feels like a competitive arena where experiences are compared, it’s crucial to remember that understanding and compassion shouldn’t be exclusive.

The advice about “it being different when they’re your own” is another favorite among the advice-givers. The implication here is that whatever concerns or doubts you might have about parenting—whether it’s the responsibility, the lifestyle change, or the sheer magnitude of the commitment—will magically dissolve the moment you hold your own child in your arms. While this sentiment is undoubtedly true for many parents, it assumes that the only barrier to wanting children is a lack of personal experience, rather than a deliberate and reasoned decision based on one’s desires and life goals.

So, while the world might keep asking when you’re going to “settle down,” you can rest easy knowing that you’ve already arrived. And isn’t that the true measure of a life well-lived?