I met a childhood friend today. She is 60 years old, like me. When we graduated from college, she immediately packed her bags and left our town. We corresponded with her for a while, but then the connection was lost.
I only found out from common acquaintances that my friend travels, doesn’t sit still, changes men. At 50 years old she had her third husband. But she eventually divorced him too. She never had children her whole life. I didn’t understand why. After all, as a rule, many women at least have children for themselves. If it didn’t work out with a man, then there’s a child and then you can babysit grandchildren.
And so a friend came to our little town. She needed to sell her remaining possessions. Before that, she had been renting out apartments. She and I met and talked. I shared my life, she shared hers. And I asked a question:
– Girlfriend, why did your life turn out like this? Why didn’t you have children? At least for yourself. So you’d have someone to give you a cup of water when you’re old?
She laughed in my face and said.
– What mug? How much will your children bring you something? Children today don’t bring mugs to bed with them for a long time. And they don’t take care of their elders. It’s easier to save all your life and hire a good caregiver, rather than ask and burden your children.
And I didn’t have a baby because I didn’t want to. I do not have a maternal desire to babysit someone forever, to take care of someone, to worry about someone, to give money. I decided to devote my life to myself. I wanted to travel, see the world, make money. My husbands left me only because I refused to have children with them.
Now I live my life for my own pleasure, too. I don’t have to babysit my grandchildren or plow into retirement to feed my children, who can’t earn their own money.
Therefore, I do not regret anything. On the contrary, I feel sorry for those who had a bunch of kids and now sit alone. And also blame the children for forgetting or moving to another country. I have no such problems.
My opinion.
I listened to my friend and realized that she was right. And why give birth, why worry if you do not want to? Why hope that I will give birth, and in my old age I will definitely get help. No one owes anyone anything.
Write your opinion in the comments.
