Gifts to welcome your newly announced childfree friend into the fold
Being childfree (as in, choosing not to have children for any number of reasons) hasn’t been and still isn’t well accepted in a lot of circles, particularly more traditional ones. So the decision to declare yourself childfree to friends and family can be met with a lot of push-back.
If you find yourself in a situation where a friend has told you they have decided to be childfree, perhaps you’d like to give them a token of support, and these childfree gifts are an awesome solution. Whether they’ll be a traveling adventure-seeker, an kick-ass aunt or uncle, a devoted fur parent, or none of the above, there’s a way to say you support them at every turn…
How DINKs (dual income, no kids) do Dublin, Prague and Pilsen
Despite our mutual love of travel, and a lifestyle that makes it easier to just get up and go (as a teacher, I have my summers off, and we don’t have any children) my husband and I had never traveled internationally together. So we decided to change that this summer, with a trip to Dublin, Ireland and the Czech Republic.
Here’s what we did and what we learned…
My childfree friends are a balm to my soul: In praise of childfree women
I know the reasons that you’re childfree are numerous. You may consciously choose it. You may want kids later but not right now. You may be grappling with infertility. You may be looking for the right partner or not sure what you’re looking for at all.
I know that media and culture tells you that the clock is ticking. That motherhood is the ultimate feminine destiny; the next epoch.
But you know what, Childfree Woman? I’m a mom and I think that’s absolute bullshit.
Creating a life vs. becoming a mom: thoughts on adoption and surrogacy
I have never thought of myself as motherly. Never wanted any part of it. I’m 26 now, and have always known that I didn’t want children of my own. But when I was 19 I had a surprise pregnancy. I was careful, but life happens. Long story short, I chose adoption. I knew I couldn’t do it and wanted the best for my little person…
Can’t spell vasectomy without team: how to give the perfect “snip gift”
“Taking one for the team”… “Vasec-Tommy”… “Can’t spell vasectomy without team” Yep, when there’s no push present because you’ve chosen to be childfree, sometimes you make t-shirts with the slogans above as part of your “snip gift” extravaganza. Our sales manager chica, Tiff, did just this for her husband and we’ve got the deets on how to make vasectomy day a much better day than it could be otherwise.
What not to say to an infertile person (even if they’re child-free!)
I’m infertile. There are a lot of unexpected emotions that come up when you’re infertile. I’ve been described as ultra-confident, and I still struggle with feelings of inadequacy. It can be tough to know what to say when you find out that someone is infertile. Here are a few common responses I’ve received, and why they’re problematic…
5 things to consider before you ask, “when are you having kids?”
Some people don’t have children because of fertility issues, because they don’t want to pass along specific genetically-inherited traits, because they can’t afford it, or simply because they don’t want them, period! Reproduction is such a personal thing, it’s about time we stop allowing impertinent inquiries into other people’s reproductive statuses to remain common occurrences.
How do you know if you’re child-neutral or child-free?
My husband definitely wants kids in a real, much more immediate sense than I do. I’ve never dealt with pangs of baby crack, but I do enjoy the company of children in certain doses. I have a toddler niece and nephews whom I love a lot, but I’ve never felt gooey for babies. I realize that just about everyone who thinks about becoming a parent questions the decision. But is there a point when you know that being child-free is truly what you want, and it’s not just cold feet?