Being child-free is a hotly discussed topic – with everyone from the national media to Auntie Doris considering it their right to contribute an opinion on the subject.

Whilst I wouldn’t say that children, per se, are overrated – they are, after all, what ensures the survival of the human race – I would say that being child-free is massively underrated.

A woman making a conscious decision not to have children shouldn’t be frowned upon – it should be celebrated. And, if you think that kids are the be all and end all of life, think again.

Here’s 12 reasons being child-free is awesome.




1. NCT groups

Possibly the worst thing about having a child – before you’ve even had the child.

The dreaded NCT group – a room full of smug mums-to-be spending two and a half hours discussing the pros and cons of the Bugaboo Bee.

If there was ever a reason not to get pregnant – this is it.

2. Maintaining your identity

Child-free women tend to have strong personalities and a real sense of identity – with the courage of their convictions to not bow to societies expectations and with the freedom to expand themselves as a person beyond being a ‘mother’.

3. And your body

Unless you’re an A-list celebrity with a live-in chef and a plastic surgeon on speed dial, your body will never be the same again.

4. Travel out of school holidays

Travelling child-free out of school holidays will cost you about five-hundred quid.

Travelling with children in school holidays will cost you seventeen-thousand-six-hundred-and-eighty-two pounds and fifty pence.

5. Weekends away

Goodbye sexy city breaks to Milan.

Hello all-inclusives to Tenerife, camping holidays in Wales and *shudders* … Disneyland.

6. Children’s TV

… Should be used in prisoner of war camps to get information out of the enemy.

Three hours of Balamory? That should do it.

7. Swearing

Swearing is one of life’s pleasures – totally robbed from you when you have a child and have to watch your Ps and Qs all the f***ing time.

But what about little Johnny (Picture: dima_sidelnikov)

8. Staying together for the kids

The excuse people often use for not having the balls to leave a bad relationship and one which you, as a childless women, mercifully, will never have to utter.

Instead you can date who you want, shag who you want and leave relationships as soon as they start to get sh*t.

9. Time

To travel, to socialise, to go to the gym, to drink gin and tonic in the bath at 3pm and dance on tables until the sun comes up.

Without having to OK it with a babysitter a week before and pay fifty quid to a spotty teenager for the privilege.

I so reget not having children. Not. (Picture: Goodluz)

10. Sleep

That is all.

11. Money

Ditto.

12. Selfishness

An unapologetic interest and respect for your ‘self’ is under-rated and f**ing awesome – but has absolutely nothing to do with being child-free.



People who have children for any other reason than because they totally and utterly want children are selfish.

People who don’t want children and don’t have them are categorically not.

MORE: 21 reasons to hate kids

MORE: 13 things you learn from watching children’s TV all day

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