I have been saying since middle school that I don’t like kids and I don’t want any. I’m 24 and I’m young and I realize I have a lot to learn about life but I’m so sick of being talked down to. If I hear “oh it’s different when they’re your own” and “you’ll change your mind when you settle down” one more time I’m going to scream.

These opinions are not more valid or substantive because they're celebs (if anything, quite the opposite), but I still agree. Having children is all-consuming. I can testify to that; I was a single Dad for awhile. My now-wife agrees. Both of us ultimately found out too late that having children is too non-deterministic and thankless a project at the end of the day.

We love our children ... and we're no slouches ... look, I employ and mentor my stepson and am tutoring one of my grandsons weekly, but it's a little bit like our dogs ... I love giving them belly rubs but hate how they tie us down. Out of the 4 children we had between us, one is a total asshat, one is dead, one has worrisome mental health challenges and one still sends out little trial balloons at the age of 40, to see if she can get us to subsidize some project involving her kids that she "can't afford" despite being employed full time as a healthcare professional.

Meh.

I can only imagine the angst that this pressure plays on a woman. For many it must be one hell of a decision.

It gets tiresome being asked why I do not have children, even more so when the implication is that this is some kind of flaw.

People tell me I am more in touch with my masculine side. That works.

Biological imperatives can be satisfied with a four footed companion. At least for some. And cutting back on overpopulation isn't exactly a bad thing.