Childfree by Choice #2

[DCICassieStuart]

I always remember when I was younger, my friends and I had a drive out to asda. We parked up in a normal space and when we came back, some woman was stood next to her car and started screaming at us… she was screaming at us because my friend had parked “too close” to her car and she had a baby with a car seat to get in the car…

For one, her windows were tinted, how were we meant to know she had a car seat and for two, why didn’t she park in parent and child? Why do people think the world revolves around them and their kids?

I was queueing in Tesco a couple of Christmas's ago. It was a couple of days before Christmas, place was packed as expected and we were all waiting patiently in the queue, when this woman with a buggy (child in buggy was about three, not a small baby) tried to push her way to the front of the queue. People started to tell her that she couldn't do that and in the most entitled voice I have ever heard, she informed us all "I have a child you know!"
The man in front of me who looked close to cracking informed her "Well I have a bleeping hernia, but it doesn't mean I'm allowed skip the queue!"

She made a hasty retreat.

 

[SqualorVictoria]

That is terrible. Just because we are childfree does not mean that we are social pariahs. That said, even social pariah’s shouldn’t have to work every Christmas

Yeah it's not about whether you're a social pariah or not or whether you have kids or not- the rota should be divided out equally! Someone having to work nights just because he's childfree is insane. If someone claims to not be able to work because of kids and nights are part or the job then surely they're no longer able to fulfill their contractual obligations

 

[Satisfying Click]

I'm dreading this family Christmas as I feel my husband and I are going to get the inevitable grilling over children. Our strategy is simple: a polite but firm, "We're not having them," and move the conversation along. I've already watched several videos on 'surviving your family over the festivities,' I feel like freaking Rambo having to do all this mental prep work.

 

[whoareyouu]

I'm dreading this family Christmas as I feel my husband and I are going to get the inevitable grilling over children. Our strategy is simple: a polite but firm, "We're not having them," and move the conversation along. I've already watched several videos on 'surviving your family over the festivities,' I feel like freaking Rambo having to do all this mental prep work.

i just give a short and sharp “I don’t like them.” People are often that shocked that they don’t ask again.

 

[newtoyou]

Urgh surely it shouldn’t be allowed to only ask child free people to work? There needs to be something put into employment law if not!

 

[lemonlime]

Urgh surely it shouldn’t be allowed to only ask child free people to work? There needs to be something put into employment law if not!

Exactly. I hate that my time is considered less valuable because I don't have a child.

 

[mrsbucket]

I always remember when I was younger, my friends and I had a drive out to asda. We parked up in a normal space and when we came back, some woman was stood next to her car and started screaming at us… she was screaming at us because my friend had parked “too close” to her car and she had a baby with a car seat to get in the car…

For one, her windows were tinted, how were we meant to know she had a car seat and for two, why didn’t she park in parent and child? Why do people think the world revolves around them and their kids?

I have a similar story to this. My dad lives on a nice road where everyone has a parking spot outside their house (NOT allocated parking, might I add). I was parked outside his next door neighbours house when visiting (and I don't visit very often) When I left there was a note on my car to the tune of "Please don't park outside my house - I have a young child and shouldn't have to park on the opposite side and put my child in danger crossing the road." For further context, the road is a quiet residential street and hardly anyone drives down it. She actually thought she shouldn't have to park on the opposite side because she has a child. Unbelievable She wants to live on my road where you are lucky to get a space within a half a mile radius of your front door

 

[Anne1448]

I'm dreading this family Christmas as I feel my husband and I are going to get the inevitable grilling over children. Our strategy is simple: a polite but firm, "We're not having them," and move the conversation along. I've already watched several videos on 'surviving your family over the festivities,' I feel like freaking Rambo having to do all this mental prep work.

My favourite techniques when family gets too nosey :

- Will you carry the baby for me?
- I had no idea that you wanted to pay for [insert any child related expenses]

Otherwise, if you are petty as me you can say :

- I really didn’t know that you cared so much about me! Are you willing to be my surrogate?
- Child-care is about a thousand euros. If you can give a few hundreds per month it would help.
- Having a nanny would make it easier. So, when would you be able to make it work?


Always turn their comments against them.

If they talk about your age, pretend that you would like them to be your surrogate.
If they talk about your money, tell them that you'll need more but would gladly accept their donations.
If they talk about how free you are say that you would be very happy to have them as nannies.

After a while you will have an answer for every situation.

 

[newtoyou]

I also don’t like the concept that “Christmas is for children”. Santa Claus is for children, Christmas is for everyone (who wants it).

 

[CheshireLove]

I also don’t like the concept that “Christmas is for children”. Santa Claus is for children, Christmas is for everyone (who wants it).

Christmas is for children? Christmas is for me to have a week off work and drink a whole bottle of Baileys.

 

[SpindleWhorl]

Christmas is for children? Christmas is for me to have a week off work and drink a whole bottle of Baileys.

Only one? I've just about managed that already, also have a bottle of Kahlua to get through x

 

[CheshireLove]

Only one? I've just about managed that already, also have a bottle of Kahlua to get through x

Oh don’t worry, the Baileys has already been opened!!

While some parents like to say Christmas is more magical with children, I personally hate the thought of buying a load of plastic crap that will only be played with for a few days and the mass commercialisation of Christmas. The never ending spending, the competition of who got what and tears that gifts aren’t right or someone else got something better. The invention of elf on the bloody shelf and “Christmas Eve boxes” just drive home how commercial the whole thing is. Just more and more money to piss away on rubbish. It doesn’t seem very magical to me.

 

[Chece3749]

Also I'm not being funny but if the parents sign up to being a police officer they should expect that sometimes working nights at Christmas and other times comes with the territory. The entitlement of the general public really is something else

They should, it’s an Emergency Service fgs. I know a firefighter (F) and she has 3 kids & has to work 4 on 4 off the same as everyone else there.
I think it’s because there is no childcare available on Christmas day and it’s hard to get it at the last minute during school holidays that they ask non parents. Not saying that makes us fair..
I used to work Xmas eve & NYE and have Xmas /boxing day off. This was actually a non formal agreement that we decided ourselves as the childless people I worked with liked to go out partying with friends. We normally all took it in terms to do NYD but I’d bring food in for whoever I was working with to help & I’d always go in early and let them come in at lunchtime. Seemed fair to us.

 

[SavetheDrama]

Currently in an all-inclusive resort in the sun. No kids allowed. My kind of Christmas

 

[JoeBloggs]

I hate those people who say Christmas isn’t fun without kids, why do I want to get up at 5am and spend the day building toys. I want to drink champagne in my pjs and relax all day!

 

[DCICassieStuart]

I used to work with someone who had two kids and always made sly digs about me not having any, even though she had no idea whether it was through choice or not.
Her email sign off said "The most precious jewels you'll ever wear around your neck are the arms of your children"

The ironic thing was she had as little to do with her own as possible. Her husband (who worked full time in shiftwork) did most of the childcare and if he wasn't able to, then they were dumped on her elderly parents because she had to go out 'networking' aka going on the piss with her mates.

 

[Sheabutter]

I used to work with someone who had two kids and always made sly digs about me not having any, even though she had no idea whether it was through choice or not.
Her email sign off said "The most precious jewels you'll ever wear around your neck are the arms of your children"

The ironic thing was she had as little to do with her own as possible. Her husband (who worked full time in shiftwork) did most of the childcare and if he wasn't able to, then they were dumped on her elderly parents because she had to go out 'networking' aka going on the piss with her mates.

Translation: I cut off the tags and they’re non-refundable

 

[SavetheDrama]

I used to work with someone who had two kids and always made sly digs about me not having any, even though she had no idea whether it was through choice or not.
Her email sign off said "The most precious jewels you'll ever wear around your neck are the arms of your children"

The ironic thing was she had as little to do with her own as possible. Her husband (who worked full time in shiftwork) did most of the childcare and if he wasn't able to, then they were dumped on her elderly parents because she had to go out 'networking' aka going on the piss with her mates.

Classic. It’s like the people constantly shouting on social media about their spouse and how much they love them. Thou protest too much….

 

[Sheabutter]

biological clock kicked on for the first time ever today

Spoiler: Warning: Yours might too

 

[newtoyou]

biological clock kicked on for the first time ever today

Spoiler: Warning: Yours might too

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Mine didn’t