In recent years, the decision not to have children has become increasingly common. Many people cite reasons such as mental health concerns, financial instability, and environmental issues for choosing a child-free life.
While this choice is generally understood and accepted by many, there are still those who vehemently oppose it.
One such person is a 42-year-old woman who went to the extreme of having two more children to “make up” for her daughter’s decision not to have kids. Keep reading to find out what happened!
This woman’s story surfaced online through a post in which she identified herself as Gen X and expressed strong criticism towards millennials. She argued that millennials are ruining the world, particularly by opting not to have children, and that people like her are left to “carry the weight” for them. However, it’s worth noting that her understanding of generational demographics appears flawed since she refers to her 22-year-old daughter as a millennial, while millennials are actually aged 27 and above.
The heart of the matter is the woman’s disappointment with her daughter’s decision to remain child-free and her plans to undergo sterilization. This sparked surprise among readers, as finding a doctor willing to perform sterilization on young women can be challenging. Nonetheless, the mother’s reaction to her daughter’s choice is what truly raised eyebrows.
The 42-year-old believes that there are “souls” waiting to join their family, and if her daughter won’t have children, then it’s her responsibility to do so. She labels her daughter as selfish for not wanting kids, despite the fact that she herself did not desire more children. She described her situation as being “stuck birthing and raising two babies.”
What many found disturbing was the family’s joking assertion that the woman’s 1.5-year-old daughter is essentially the child her 22-year-old didn’t want, implying abandonment and shaming her for not wanting to contribute to what they see as necessary population growth.
When the rant was shared on Twitter by AskAubry, it drew widespread horror and disbelief. Commenters noted that the argument seemed irrational and rejected the idea that generational identity dictated reproductive choices.
One person even wrote: “wait, what? she was literally like “my daughter doesn’t want kids so i had to have more kids so our family would have enough souls”? this can’t be serious…can it?”
Despite the extreme nature of her views, the woman did touch upon a broader societal trend: millennials indeed are having fewer children.
According to the BBC, the global fertility rate has dropped from an average of 4.7 children per woman in 1950 to 2.4 in 2017. In the US, CBS reports that the average number of children per woman is now around 1.3. Business Insider highlights several reasons for this decline, including the high cost of raising children.
The Heller School For Social Policy And Management reports that 63 percent of full-time working parents struggle to afford full-time childcare, with the cost of raising a child to adulthood averaging $230,000 in the US.
Moreover, women now have more life choices beyond traditional roles of wife and mother. Concerns about climate change also play a role, with many fearing the implications of bringing children into an uncertain future marked by environmental degradation and resource overconsumption.
Historically, there have always been people who chose not to have children, but today it is more socially acceptable to voice this decision. Many people openly discuss their regrets about having children or celebrate their child-free lives.
What do you think of this story? Let us know your thoughts!
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