1. I was not comfortable with the generalized idea in LDS culture that childless meant less of something. That DOES NOT exist in the world at large, especially where people grew up with more diversity like Los Angeles or NYC. People are more “raised” to ideas of “family or not” than you might think.

2. The comment that some people might not have accomplished such and such if they had kids is EXTREMELY true. Its important to realize that some people deliberately embraced ideas and living outside of having children. I have met many, especially in the larger cities, who see family for themselves as a nightmare (as much as some LDS see the other a nightmare) and live LONG lives void of having kids, yet fully happy.

3. It took a lot of “space” from the culture (lived in Utah for 20 years, active LDS most of my life) to realize and see the beauty in someones choice not to have kids, or perhaps marry (on top of having meaningful relationships-which also do not require marriage)

4. However, the human being in the simplest and most basic of terms is natural to have sex and create offspring, busy and joy themselves with the next generation, etc. The single life is not for everyone, and I get lonely, but not because of not having kids or because I am not married. Ask divorved people with kids if marriage and kids were a prevent to loneliness-Better yet-lol-ask some married people with kids if they feel lonely at times-yes-incredibly. Well, I am being verbose, but I wanted to say that “keeping life interesting and exciting” takes work weather single or with family. Family “keeps it busy” but not necessarily exciting. “Bored housewife syndrome”
was not coined by me.

I, will share my personal experience. I make my life exciting by making choices, working through stuff, and reaching out to new learning experiences, and from the TONS of opportunities available in life for ALL PEOPLE to move ahead. I think this entire perspective is completely aside from kids and marriage. I even think a lot of “I feel sorry for them prattle” comes not from people seeing the “other side of being a parent” but rather I think a lot of people “go around feeling sorry for other people” cuz it gives em sort of that Christian way of being compasionate. I am happy. Life is hard sometimes, but thats because life is hard sometimes, not because kids make life better. We get really caught up with ourselves and feeling for others (as we often do in naivity and with VERY limited understanding) is almost akin to “looking down at them” while thinking they are “different”. This applies to a LOT more than weather or not people have kids.

You want a “fun one” Make a thread about recently divorced people in the LDS Church who suddenly werent invited to that neighborhood picnic for reasons never explained to them. HMMMM.

I am one who thinks life might be very empty without children, especially for the elderly. Many of the elderly I know who never had children are very lonely and at a disadvantage when they need care; however, there are shining exceptions.

On the other hand, I think of all those years they had of freedom and solitude and maybe I could put up with the emptiness. Honestly, if there weren’t a God and I could go back and start over, I’d never get married and have a hysterectomy when I was 20. Maybe live in a cave somewhere.