LOVE this thread, just sat down and laughed at most of the posts, and remembered a few good zings to fight back with ;).

Best was:

[quote]Person Who Won't Let It Go (henceforth known as PWWLIG) : (Whiny, baby voice) "...But I think you'd be such a WONDERFUL mother!!!!"

Me (known as, um, ME): "Yes? Well, there are times when I think I would probably make a wonderful murderer but I don't do it. I don't feel it's worth the life-time sentence. Same with motherhood."[/quote]

that's stored in the zing-bank, I'll get someone :twisted:

Fun to babysit?

[quote="HumbleAbode"]These are based on true stories. Family, friends, and strangers shouldn't dish it if they can't take it. :lol:

[snip]

A crazy family member: Have a child and I will raise the child.
Me: :?: :roll: :o *silence*
[/quote]
Ugh, I get this one from one of my best friends All.The.Time. She knows I'm not wanting kids, but she thinks it'll be fun for her to babysit. Um no...bc ultimately, it would be MY responsibility, and I don't want that! Grrr...

These are based on true stories. Family, friends, and strangers shouldn't dish it if they can't take it. :lol:

Them: You should have at least one!
Me: We are not talking about a slice of pie. This is a human life that you can't take just a spoon full of or keep it in the refrigerator for when you feel like being bothered.

A crazy family member: Have a child and I will raise the child.
Me: :?: :roll: :o *silence*

Them: I think you are not making a wise decision.
Me: I am a very grown woman. I will care what you think when you sign a contract to become impregnated for me, carry the baby, give birth, and raise the child for the first 18 years. I will babysit the kid a couple of hours on a Saturday if and only if I have nothing better to do as a childfree by choice person. Get the point now?

Them: You'll change your mind.
[b]Me if I am annoyed with the person[/b]: Just like you will change your mind about the baby in your belly and the children you already have. Late abortion? Abandoned children in a hospital parking lot? You decide. Changing your mind is apparently inevitable.
[b]Me if I know the person meant no harm[/b]: You do not know that. For future reference, that is an insulting assertion. Some people are not complimented by children. Challenging us on that is an insult.

Them: You would be a good mother.
Me: I know you think you are complimenting me but I do not consider that a compliment. Besides, how would you know about my parenting skills?


While we are happy being childfree, we interact with people everyday and it can be annoying dealing with people who cannot hush and mind their own business. Now in my late 30s, I have my mind made up about being childfree. I am not a huge fan of children. I can tolerate children just enough to enjoy time with family and friends. That is not enough to have my own children. Only fools would suggest that I try it out like we are talking about test driving a car. Many people think they are complimenting us when they say things like "you would be a wonderful parent." That is not only a stupid and usually unfounded comment, it is insulting to wish something on someone that the person considers their worst nightmare. If being childfree is the opposite of my goals and happiness, why wish misery on me? I feel sorry for the people who have been pressured into having children or had children that they do not want. Being a parent does not mean that you want to be a parent. Adults take on responsiblities and do what they have to do. That does not mean that they are happy or that they would not choose differently if they could change their outcome. That applies to women and men although I think women are pressured the most into having children when they do not want children. People treat me like I have 3 eyes when they find out that I am childfree by choice. If I was a man they would not be as shocked and angered.

Sounds like those women believe a little too much in the Cinderella fairytale.

I got a chance to use some good zingers I read here on a couple of thought-they-were-superior coworkers the other day. The whole thing started when one person's trouble-making kid was labeled as "revenge" since she was a handful for her own parents; I said cheerfully to a CL/CF woman in her 50s "hey, we lucked out by not having kids -- we got to be brats with no consequences!" It was all very joke-y in tone, but I wound up annoyed by the end of it, especially when the CL/CF woman didn't join in at all:

Woman 1: "oh, just wait, when you end up pregnant someday, I'll remember this and really have a chuckle!"
Me: "wait, so if I end up impregnated against my will, you're going to point and laugh?!"
W1: "well not if it's against your will!"
Me: "that's the only way it's going to happen!"
Woman 2: "you're not even 30 yet, right?"
Me: "no, I'm 28 right now."
W2: "oh, you just watch, some guy is gonna come along and just knock you off your feet."
Me: "that doesn't mean he has to impregnate me! those are two separate things, you know!"

That was basically the end of the conversation, but it annoys the crap out of me when women think they know me better than I know myself. This, just a couple days after visiting relatives asked me if I'd done any online dating (WTF? not even asking if I'm seeing anyone, just asking if I'm online dating) and stated condescendingly "we just need to get you out more". Did I ever complain about my life? NO. They just all think they know what's going to happen to me or should happen to me. It's infuriating. :roll:

I just say "I have better things to do".

I say, "I'm 70. I have more money than I need and I'm as happy as I've ever been in my life.
People can tell I'm being honest. You can't fake personal satisfaction.
Just let somebody tell me I'm going to change my mind and have regrets when I'm "older". :mrgreen:

"I was just like you before I had kids."

"No you weren't, because if you were, you never would have had them."

This thread has had me laughing so hard me co-worker is giving me the evil eye.

My response is similar to vabuchanan...

"When you are going to have kids? You already have a dog, and that's like practice for kids."
Me: "When I can put my kid in a crate when I go out and feed it nothing but kibble and water."

I think I'm going to start using the murderer and life sentence bingo - that one is fantastic!