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Category Archives: Childfree

People Are Loving How This Childfree Woman Clapped Back At "Friend …

Posted: December 21, 2022 at 4:02 am

Having children can be the most gratifying yet most demanding experience in ones life. The turmoils of motherhood are not to be scoffed at, especially when taking into consideration the life-changing transformations to the body, the mind, and to her own sense of self. Were also not forgetting the social pressures mothers face on a daily basis.

Having said that, the child is the mothers responsibility, a responsibility which should be shared with those that fully agree to take it on. However, there have been situations where moms have felt entitled to ask, and then pressure, acquaintances to take care of their offspring, arguing that it takes a village to raise a child.

This is the situation that Reddit user artinthegarage faced, sharing her tale on the subreddit r/EntitledPeople. One mothers suggestion turned into a full-on peer-pressuring event by her friends, who the Original Poster (OP) called the Mommy Group, yet it seems the OP got to have the last laugh. Quite literally.

Dear Pandas, please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. Was the OP right to react the way that she did? What would you have done? Also, if after all this youre still craving some spicy entitlement stories, Ive got you covered! Lets get into it!

More info: Reddit

Image credits: Nenad Stojkovic (not the actual photo)

There come forth situations in life where you can do nothing else but ask for help. Whether it be family members, friends, acquaintances, or members of your yoga class, there are always those that could be open to lending a helping hand. As long as youre not an entitled bully that cant take no for an answer.

Reddit user artinthegarage, whose actual name is Jennifer Nicole, is an artist with 15.6K followers on Instagram. She quite recently shared her experience with an entitled mother who would not allow her to refuse to look after her 3 children, all under the age of 10, and got her flock of friends to help persuade her. Lots to unravel here, so many layers, but its quite an interesting one, so lets bite into it.

Image credits: artinthegarage

Image credits: Darya Sannikova (not the actual photo)

Image credits: artinthegarage

I love taking the stance of the Devils advocate, especially in cases when the person described is so clearly in the wrong. So, in order to do this, lets investigate three things: the social burden of motherhood, entitlement and peer pressure, as well as having a community there to help raise a child.

In many societies, being a mother is still seen as an unavoidable, positive, and sought-after goal in a womans life. For dozens of years, it was the norm for the child to become the center of their mothers universe, taking precedence over her own interests, and forcing her to be completely involved in the role of caretaker.

Only recently have the realities of motherhood started being discussed by candid women all around the world: the roller coaster of emotions and the physical demands that come with the title of mother. What was once seen as unnatural and even pathological, such as negative feelings toward motherhood, are being brought to light.

Filipa Csar and colleagues believe that the exposure of concealed negative feelings towards motherhood may have an important role in changing the way society views parenthood, helping to enhance the mothers well-being beyond the mother-child relationship, and in considering the serious difficulties associated with motherhood.

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)

Image credits: artinthegarage

Now, where do entitlement and peer pressure come into this equation? Lets start with some definitions. Entitlement, according to Merriam-Websters Unabridged Dictionary, is a belief that one is deserving of certain privileges. And, according to VeryWellMind, peer pressure is the process by which members of the same social group influence other members to do things that they may be resistant to, or might not otherwise choose to do.

In general, a person with a sense of entitlement has a self-absorbed view of the world. They think they deserve special treatment and that their personal needs come before everyone elses, and they act like victims and blame other people or outside forces for their problems, causing a big scene when their demands arent met.

On the flip side of the coin, we have peer pressure. Direct peer pressure is when a person uses verbal or nonverbal cues to persuade someone to do something. It can quickly turn negative, as the person is faced with doing something they wouldnt normally do or dont want to do as a way of fitting in with a social group.

Both of those elements are very much prevalent in this story that were discussing at the moment. Its not the fact that the mom was asking for help, but rather the guilt-tripping and emotional manipulation that followed. No one should have to deal with peer pressure from what the OP called the Mommy Wagon Trainemails, calls, and even bullet lists for how one should live their life.

Image credits: SOCMIA Fotografa (not the actual photo)

Image credits: artinthegarage

Image credits: Daniel Chekalov (not the actual photo)

Image credits: artinthegarage

If youre dealing with peer pressure in adulthood, Destination Hope Mental Health Center advises all to be true to themselves. Be assertive, be mindful of your needs and core values, and dont mind your critics. Someone elses problems arent yours to solve if they disagree with your own beliefs and capabilities of helping.

But now were at the last point, which goes with the very popular saying, It takes a village to raise a child. Back in the day, community living was a given; people lived in close proximity to others, sharing food and tools, to protect each other and to exchange ideas. But the concept of such a village has changed dramatically in recent years.

Were more isolated than ever, and new parents are feeling isolated and alone in their struggles. As explained by the Exchange Family Center, oftentimes parents feel stressed, overworked, judged, and inadequate. Burnout and exhaustion are real, but without a community around to validate those feelings, many moms and dads feel like that pain is their own to bear.

Image credits: monica di loxley (not the actual photo)

Image credits: artinthegarage

So how does one build a supportive community without forcing one upon other people with different values? Communication is key. Starting with family members, then friends, then acquaintances, and finding a common ground to stand on. One just needs willing participants to help design a framework that meets everyones needs!

Finally, consider seeking out local services and programs designed to build community. Parenting groups and/or community centers are wonderful (and affordable) places to start looking for other families who are seeking deeper connections and support systems. It takes time and patience, but its a sure way to find like-minded people and not end up on the r/EntitledPeople subreddit.

We are not here to judge either party; this story is told from one point of view, and its simply too little to make a complete picture of either persons character. However, I can say from a personal standpoint that I would have done the same thing as the OP, mayhaps with a glass of whisky rather than wine (drink responsibly).

What about you, dear reader, whats your deduction after having gone through this complex story? What are your thoughts and opinions, and what would you advise this mother to do in the future, as Im sure shell have learned that pressuring someone to abide by her will isnt the most wholesome option.

Enjoy what the community had to say, and I shall see you in the next one! I bid you adieu!

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People Are Loving How This Childfree Woman Clapped Back At "Friend ...

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Daemen University to Host Free Screening of Childfree by Choice Film

Posted: November 23, 2022 at 4:25 am

BUFFALO, N.Y. The Center for Biological Diversity will host a free screening of My So-Called Selfish Life, directed by Therese Shechter, a documentary that examines the choice to be childfree and the importance of reproductive rights and justice. The screening will be held at Daemen University and will be followed by a Q&A and panel discussion about the relationship between reproductive freedom and the environment.

We need to talk about family planning and choosing to be childfree if were going to reduce the pressure our growing population puts on the planet, said Sarah Baillie, population and sustainability organizer at the Center. Here in the United States, each person has an outsized environmental impact. Having one less child can save about 60 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

What: Screening of My So-Called Selfish Life

When: Oct. 25, 7 p.m. 9 p.m.

Where: Daemen University, 4380 Main St, Amherst, NY, Schenck Hall Room 107

Who: In addition to the film screening, there will be a panel discussion with Sarah Baillie, population and sustainability organizer at the Center for Biological Diversity, and students, staff and faculty from Daemen University.

Register to attend the event here: https://1025flim.eventbrite.com

Background

The Center for Biological Diversitys Population and Sustainability program addresses the impacts of human population pressure and destructive consumption and production on wildlife and the environment. We fight for solutions that advance justice, equity, health, and a compassionate world where both people and wildlife can thrive.

For more information or to watch the film trailer, visit https://bit.ly/CBDcampusfilmtour.

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Daemen University to Host Free Screening of Childfree by Choice Film

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Childfree People Are Sharing What It’s Actually Like To Get Older Without Kids In The Picture, And Their Honesty Is So Refreshing – BuzzFeed

Posted: October 15, 2022 at 5:42 pm

  1. Childfree People Are Sharing What It's Actually Like To Get Older Without Kids In The Picture, And Their Honesty Is So Refreshing  BuzzFeed
  2. People Get Raw And Honest About Whether They Regret Not Having Kids Now That They're Over 40  Bored Panda
  3. Annoying thing people with kids always do  news.com.au
  4. Why More Black Women Are Choosing To Be Childfree  Yahoo News
  5. Opinion | I'm child-free by choice so no, I don't want to look after your kids  Newstalk ZB
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Childfree People Are Sharing What It's Actually Like To Get Older Without Kids In The Picture, And Their Honesty Is So Refreshing - BuzzFeed

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‘Special Treatment’: New Mom Dragged for Bringing Baby to Childfree Wedding

Posted: October 13, 2022 at 12:59 pm

A new mom is being criticized for bringing her baby to a childfree wedding, because she didn't trust the babysitter her cousins hired to mind the kids.

The new mom, u/babyweddingthrowaway, posted her story to the popular r/AmITheA**hole Reddit forum. She earned over 4,000 upvotes; 2,800 comments and a heaping helping of scorn for her post, "[Am I the A**hole] for bringing my baby to a child-free wedding?"

She explains that her cousin lives six hours away from the rest of her family. He was getting married, so his family members all made the drive to the wedding. However, it was understood that the wedding was to be childfree, simply due to the lack of space available.

"My baby was 10 months old at the time and I wasn't comfortable leaving him alone in an unfamiliar place with a stranger, which was a babysitter that my other cousins hired for their own kids. So I decided to bring him to the wedding," the original poster (OP) wrote, adding that she wrote on the RSVP about her plans, clarifying that she'd cover the infant's food.

Since u/babyweddingthrowaway didn't hear anything back, she assumed that this was fine. The baby sat on her lap during the ceremony, and though he started to cry, she removed him from the room to not interrupt further. The baby also stayed with her during the reception in a baby sling. Again, she thought everything was fine as the baby didn't act up.

But after the wedding, her aunt called her rude for bringing the babyand when she was told about the RSVP, she said that the bride and groom did indeed have a problem, but decided not to push back.

"The bride didn't want to start any drama because she doesn't know me well," u/babyweddingthrowaway wrote.

Her aunt also mentioned that another cousin had an even younger infanta 7-month-oldand there was no issue leaving the child with the babysitter. In addition, some of her other cousins with small children were irritated with the groom, believing he'd given the OP special dispensation to have her child with her while everyone else had to use a babysitter.

Even when a wedding isn't explicitly childfree, the question on whether or not to bring a baby is controversialand not just for worries about interrupting the wedding. A baby doesn't get vaccinated until after the first two months, according to parenting site Romper, and so bringing a baby this young to a wedding can be dangerous and make them sick. Romper recommends waiting until six or eight weeks at the soonest to bring a baby to an event like a weddingthough waiting at least six months, after the child's eligible for a flu shot, is preferred.

The OP's baby, being 10-months-old, is likely cleared for a big event health-wise, but even then, it's still not always the ideal move. Writing for PhillyVoice, Katie Gagnon recommends taking a baby to the church, but not the receptionand even then, only if the bride and groom are allowing children. At another event, Gagnon says another parent hired babysittersand though, like OP, she was initially apprehensive about leaving her child with a stranger, it worked out well for both parents and child.

Though the OP likely went to the Reddit looking for validation, she did not receive it in the comments.

"[You're the A**hole] - your baby literally did the thing that the bride/groom wanted to avoid - disrupt the ceremony. You had plenty of time to find a babysitter or other family member to watch your kid while you went to the wedding but decided that you were just above the rules," u/brainybae wrote in the top-rated comment, earning 16,400 upvotes.

"Or, if you're really not comfortable leaving your baby with a sitter, just...don't go to the wedding. Staying home is always an option," u/HiramMcDaniels9 added.

"Yeah, and I don't think penciling it in to the RSVP is good enough either. If you think your cousin really wants you there, you literally call them up and have a frank discussion to figure out if it's really OK for you to violate the [childfree] aspect for both bride and groom. If not and you don't have a sitter, stay home," u/avelak wrote. "[You're the A**hole]"

"I told everyone my wedding was child free. I even had friends stationed at the front in case people brought their children to direct them to free babysitters - I knew people would try and go around it. And still someone brought a baby in and sat in the back because their baby 'would be fine'. We barely even knew this person. You can hear this damn baby crying on my video and it p**ses me off 24 years later every time I think about it," u/soonernotlater1015 shared. "[You're the A**hole]."

"People like you get on my nerves. Child free means child free. You do not get to change the rules of someone's wedding because you didnt want a babysitter. It's very entitled. [You're the A**hole]," u/Agreeable-Owl-6269 wrote.

"[You're the A**hole]. 'Don't bring a baby' 'okay I will,'" u/shnanogans wrote.

Newsweek reached out to u/babyweddingthrowaway for comment.

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'Special Treatment': New Mom Dragged for Bringing Baby to Childfree Wedding

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The Reason Miley Cyrus Doesn’t Want To Have Kids – msnNOW

Posted: at 12:59 pm

DFree/Shutterstock Miley Cyrus smiling

Miley Cyrus has been one of America's most recognizable singers and actors ever since the advent of her career in the early 2000s. Although she rose to fame as a teen idol inDisney Channel's "Hannah Montana"from 2006 to 2011, she has continued to maintain asuccessful careeras a singer and performer, even appearing on Billboard's"Greatest of All Time Artists Chart"in 2019.

However, given Cyrus' impact on millennial and youth culture, her personal life has also been a subject of great interest. This fascination was boosted in no small part by her high-profile marriage to Australian actorLiam Hemsworth which only lastedone year until their divorcein 2020 in addition to herintense activismfor the LGBTQ+ community, of whichshe is a member. However, despite interest in her personal and love life, Cyrus has been open about the fact that she does not want to have children. And unlikemany other celebritieswho have decided to remain childfree to focus on their careers, Cyrus' reasons for doing so are much more personal and heartfelt.

In a July 2019 interview withElle, Miley Cyrus opened up about her feelings on having children, revealing that she scorned the idea that women's primary purpose on the planet is to have children. "We're expected to keep the planet populated. And when that isn't a part of our plan or our purpose, there is so much judgment and anger that they try to make and change laws to force it upon you," Cyrus said. In addition, reflecting many peoples' fears on the worsening climate crisis, Cyrus added that she did not want to have children because of the planet she would be handing them. "We're getting handed a piece-of-s*** planet, and I refuse to hand that down to my child,"she explained. "Until I feel like my kid would live on an earth with fish in the water, I'm not bringing in another person to deal with that. "

Cyrus is not the first person (or celebrity) to express this sentiment. In recent years, there has been agrowing trendof people and celebrities who have chosen not to have children because of climate change. Some celebs are opting to live a child-free life because they believe it is unethical to introduce a person into such an environment, considering having childrensignificantly increasesone's carbon footprint. Among other celebrities who have expressed this sentiment areLeonardo DiCaprioand U.S. CongresswomanAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Miley Cyrus wasn't always opposed to having children. In May 2019, during her marriage to Liam Hemsworth marriage around the time of Cyrus' Elle interview Hemsworth was intent on having children, jokingly telling GQ Australiathat he wanted "10, 15, maybe 20" of them. However, he was not in a rush,telling the outlet that he would like them "one day, once we don't have so many dogs. You couldn't bring a baby into our house right now. But one day, we'll know when it's right." Of course, Cyrus and Hemsworth would divorce the following year.

As fans of Cyrus are aware, the longtime entertainer has a big family: She is the second of four children to her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, and the third of her mother's five children. Perhaps as a result of that, Cyrus used to fantasize about having children. In 2012, after Cyrus and Hemsworth first got engaged, a source close to the singer told Hollywood Life that, while she was in no rush to get pregnant, she "really want[ed] a bunch of kids." However, the source also said that "it might be a little while after marriage for her to start because she really loves her body and wants to spend some time being the 'Hot Wife.'" Of course, in the years since, her attitude on the subject seems to have changed.

Read this next: The Most Brutal Celeb Breakups Of 2022 So Far

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Why a safari holiday was the best way to say goodbye to our childfree life – The Telegraph

Posted: October 8, 2022 at 3:52 pm

I strode back towards the safari vehicle, the dust lightly swirling around my walking boots, thinking that perhaps using the bush bathroom wasnt the wisest decision. Robin, our guide, confirmed my fears as she set out snacks beside a lazy river in Marataba.

I had to send Ed (my new husband) out after you, she said with a slow smile. This is leopard territory.

Balancing the risk of becoming lunch for a big cat with the literal pressures of early pregnancy on the bladder, although far from glamorous, seemed to fittingly epitomise my feelings. Throughout our honeymoon I had struggled to reconcile the independent, confident attitude to travel I had always had with a newly acquired anxiety. Was the road too bumpy? Was that spider poisonous? Was the pool too cold? Did that drink have booze in it? On discovering that I was pregnant just a few weeks after our wedding, my behaviour had fundamentally changed.

Even our choice of destination had been affected. At short notice, wed had to shelve our dream of visiting the Okavango Delta and look for an alternative that was malaria-free. It's a surprisingly common search performed not just by pregnant people, but by those travelling with young children, those with health conditions and those who are simply bored of medical red tape.

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Single and Not Ready to Mingle: The Discrimination Against Single Women in Singapore | Opinion – Newsweek

Posted: at 3:52 pm

Singapore recently repealed Section 377A of their penal code, which criminalized sex between men. The government, however, stated that it will change the constitution of Singapore to give Parliament the power to define family as a one-man-and-one-woman heterosexual unit. What this effectively does is engender inequality not just for LGBTQIA+ folks, but also singles, as anything other than a heterosexual unit is then seen as "deviant."

This inequality is not new in Singapore. Singles are not eligible for a government subsidy to buy Housing Development Board (HDB) flats unless they are 35 years old and above. Many singles end up staying with parents and extended families due to this policy. For single women, the disproportionate burden of care work, along with policing of their mobility in conservative households, can prove tricky to navigate and this further entrenches dangerous gender stereotypes. For single mothers, this becomes even more complicated because unwed and single parents are only eligible for limited housing subsidies.

Singapore also announced that from 2023, it would lift a ban on single women between 21 and 35 years of age who want to freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons. However, a caveat is in place: Women can only use the eggs if they are legally married. This immediately excludes not only same-sex couples who cannot get married under the country's laws, but also single women who may want children outside of marriage, especially those who are 35 years old and above.

While Singapore's laws and policies are one such example highlighting the discrimination single women face and the disproportionate burden they bear in terms of care work, it is not alone in such discrimination. Discriminatory attitudes toward single women are near universal, particularly toward single and childfree women who are working.

Many women in the 21 century around the world are choosing singlehood and a childfree life, particularly women who are educated up to a tertiary level and live in cities and urban centers. Despite societal progress in attitudes toward singles in recent decades, the stigma of being single still remains for women.

The term "singlism" was coined by Bella DePaulo to capture the "stereotyping, stigmatizing, and discrimination against people who are single." For women, singlism gets amplified when laws and policies are discriminatory in addition to the misogyny and financial challenges they face as they often earn less and pay more for social benefits, health care, and income taxes. In April 2022, The Washington Post's Soo Youn wrote that single childfree women face a workplace penalty too. "Because they are more often stereotyped as lacking leadership abilities. These women were often seen as too 'masculine' for leadership when the same traits benefited single men," wrote Youn. In many parts of Asia, landlords give rental preference to heterosexual married couples rather than single women. A noteworthy point is that globally, discrimination against single childfree women is seen as more acceptable than discrimination against mothers or any other national or social group.

In many parts of the world, there is a moral panic that comes with being single, childfree and female. These women go against the established norm of "couplehood" and marriage. Derogatory terms such as "crazy cat lady" and "spinster" (though this has fallen out of use, the connotations still remain) have been commonly used to describe single childfree women. Historically, they were also hunted as witches, and every culture has their own version of this. To encourage more tertiary-educated women to marry, Singapore even had a Social Development Unit (SDU) from the 1980s till 2006, where matchmaking was engineered by the state. Such moral panic gets reinforced and replicated in scientific-sounding data reports which state that married men are reported to be happier than single men. Such reports conveniently do not mention the disproportionate burden of care work that falls upon women and the unequal distribution of caregiving is thus made invisible.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong remarked on that. While progress has been made in women's development, "more can be done to tackle gender gaps." Gender gaps, however, will continue to exist as long as laws and policies do not catch up and level the playing field. To alleviate gender stereotypes, laws and policies too must reflect a progressive stance toward equality without further entrenching these very stereotypes.

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, is a Public Voices Fellow on advancing the rights of women and girls with The OpEd Project and Equality Now.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.

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Woman divorcing husband because he calls her sister ‘his wife’ – indy100

Posted: at 3:52 pm

A woman has revealed she's getting a divorce from her husband after she discovered he was telling his online gaming pals that he was married to her sister.

In a post to Reddit's "True Off My Chest" forum, the woman detailed her devastation which started after she searched through her husband's phone and computer and stumbled upon strange remarks he had made about her sister gaining weight and soon realised his feeling for her.

"My husband is in love or at least has a crush on my sister," she wrote. "Im not the only one hes complaining to about her weight gain."

"His best friend knows EVERYTHING. He actually sends him pictures of my sister and openly admits that he uses these pictures to pleasure himself some nights. He complains that shes getting fatter. Hes annoyed that she might be pregnant or that shes just going to ruin her beauty."

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She also describes how he has taken "maybe hundreds" of pictures of her sister in a bikini from their family vacations together while he has cropped her out of the photos.

The husband has even pretended that he is married to her sister and that the kids she has are his children too.

"On his PC, he has group chats with his gaming friends. People that dont know him IRL. To those he pretends that my sister and her children are his family. He proudly brags about having her. His profile picture is of her, her children and him from a Christmas party."

Understandably, the woman is completely stunned by her husband's actions and notes there was nothing in their relationship before this that sparked concern.

"Im shocked and disturbed and very confused. I never pressure him to do anything nice to me but he tells me he loves me every day. He kisses and hugs me all the time. He never complains about me or my appearance and although he never compliments my looks, he never complains about them either."

A woman found out her husband was telling his gaming friends that he was married to her sisteriStockphoto by Getty Images

She continued: "My sister is very beautiful, and shes always been beautiful. Ive learned that I could be other things and Im fine with it. I have many great qualities and I always get compliments for them. Thats why I never reacted to the lack of compliments from my husband. This is just how things always been for me.

"Whats going on? And what about posing her children as his? My husband and I are childfree and it was more his choice. He never wanted children. EVER."

Near the end of the post, she informed the community of her next steps which include getting a divorce (no surprises there).

"Im divorcing my husband. I have yet to tell him what Ive read and seen. Im not ashamed that I have snooped around his private matters and Im not gonna wait and listen to excuses.

"This is beyond creepy and beyond salvation. Its so over," she concluded.

Since sharing her life-changing news, the woman has received widespread support in the comments.

One person said: "Sounds like you have a clear head and youre still good with your sister and family. Best Wishes. You are going to be okay."

"Good luck, OP. In your divorce and in your life in general. You truly seem like a strong and smart person," another person wrote.

Someone else added: "Im so sorry OP, this must hurt a lot. His behavior is beyond imaginable to me and I am so sorry your sister has to go through more negativity because of his actions."

"Good for you! Please make sure to get evidence and screenshots/photos of the weird posts and behaviour before he can delete it. That may be good to have for your divorce proceedings," a fourth person commented.

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Woman Gives Up Career to Have Kids, On 3rd Wedding Anniversary Turns Out Her Husband Is Childfree Story of the Day – AmoMama

Posted: September 27, 2022 at 8:21 am

Evelyn thought it was the perfect time to talk to her husband about their dream of having kids. But when his lies came to light, she stormed off after an unexpected secret was revealed.

Evelyn couldn't believe it had been three years already. She sat at an exquisitely decorated table in a dimly lit corner of an empty dining hall. The lights of the chandelier were reflected on her gorgeous shimmery dress, and the soft jazz playing in the background only added to the romance of the evening.

"Happy anniversary, sweetheart," Oliver held Evelyn's hands and whispered for the seventh time that evening.

"Happy anniversary, baby. Who knew that the boy I once fought in the middle of the road would become my life partner?"

Oliver smiled at the memory and said, "But do you finally admit that it was your fault for driving without your turn signals on that day?"

"Never!" Evelyn laughed, and Oliver joined in.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

"But seriously, we've come a long way. We fell head over heels in love; we broke up a million times and got back together again. We managed to convince and win back our parents, who weren't happy about the marriage."

"Oh, that was a really long battle. And then, our big move from Bowling Green to Boston..." Evelyn recalled.

When they lived in Ohio, Evelyn was a successful project manager at an international company. She loved every part of her job, especially leading a team of dynamic workers. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone on the team loved working with the ambitious and creative Evelyn.

"When you start your own company, give me a call. I'll quit anything else I'm doing and join you," many of Evelyn's team members often said.

Evelyn went on to finally receive the promotion she had been waiting for for years. At the same time, Oliver got his most significant career break.

"You are lucky for me," Oliver had told her. "We got married, and within weeks, I got the best career opportunity I could ever dream of!" Evelyn was thrilled for her husband - until she learned the job was in a new city.

Evelyn had a choice to make. She could either insist on staying in Ohio and pursuing the career of her dreams. Or she could support her husband's dream, even if that meant uprooting her life from the place she called home since she was little.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

The dilemma in Evelyn's heart had ended with one question she asked Oliver.

"Do you see ushaving a baby in this new place?" Evelyn blushed but her heart was pounding as she waited for the answer. "Baby, if I take up this job, I see us raising a beautiful family and providing every comfort we wish for," replied Oliver.

That was all she needed to hear. The part about raising a family stuck with Evelyn.

While many people who worked with her thought she was a career-driven woman, only those close to Evelyn knew that she loved children and wanted one of her own.

And so, leaving behind everyone and everything that she knew, a teary-eyed Evelyn chose to look forward - to the day when she and Oliver would have a child.

But the big job had taken over Oliver's life since they moved. He wanted to get into the firm's top management and worked 12 to 14-hour shifts most weekdays. Initially, Oliver reserved the weekends for quality time with Evelyn. But as months passed and the novelty of a new marriage wore off, Oliver also began to work on those days.

Evelyn was thrilled about Oliver's rapid success - she wouldn't have had it any other way. But sometimes, when she spotted a woman like her, dressed like a boss, walking with a sense of confidence and purpose along the street, she felt a pinch of disappointment.

She would have loved to find a job in the new city, but then she would barely see her husband anymore.

Three years passed by. During that time, Evelyn had brought up the topic of having a baby on several occasions. But unfortunately for Oliver, there was always a bigger challenge to overcome, or a closer goal to achieve.

But they had everything they could hope for: a beautiful house of their own, a car, and enough savings to care for the needs of a baby.

"Today," said Evelyn as looked into her husband's eyes, her mind returning to the present, "It feels like all of it was worth it."

"I have a little something for you to make it a bit more worth it," Oliver said, holding a tiny square box in his hands under the table. He was saving it until after dinner.

He knew she would love the delicate diamond earrings he had chosen.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

What he didn't know was that Evelyn was hiding a box of her own.

"Oliver, the love of my life, I'm so proud of you. You've worked incredibly hard, forgotten many dates, and missed so much sleep in the last three years. All so that we can comfortably raise a family."

"That's what I thought. But can you imagine us living this life with a baby in it?" the look on Oliver's face shocked Evelyn. She couldn't tell if it was her husband talking or the four drinks he had gulped down earlier in the evening.

"Well, obviously not in this busy lifestyle. We'd happily move things around for a baby, though"

"Exactly. Not in this busy lifestyle. And think about yourself, too. You must be worried sick of not having a career anymore. We still have that to focus on."

"I don't need us to 'focus' on my career." Evelyn was irritated by Oliver's patronizing comment. "I made a conscious choice to quit back then, and I can get started again the day I choose to. But there's a good reason why I haven't done that yet, and you know it."

Oliver didn't even raise his head as he pretended to stare at his phone.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

"I didn't force you to make any choice, did I, Evelyn?" he muttered.

"So that's it? You don't want to have a baby?"

"I've never wanted a baby. I've always subscribed to being child-free. Do you understand what it takes out of you to be a parent? You'll forget to eat, sleep, and struggle to remember who you are. And you can forget about reviving your career. Even pregnancy will take a toll on you and your body, making you so fragile, it'll be like you're sick..."

"Well, in that case, guess what. I AM sick!"

Evelyn's words echoed in the room and were met with a few seconds of speechlessness.

"Are you saying that"

"Yes! I'm pregnant. I thought I would surprise you, but I didn't know you had been lying to me, leading me on for all these years. Sorry about that. I thought after everything we've worked for, everything we turned our lives around for, this would finally be a gift," Evelyn blurted, opening the box. It was the pregnancy test she took that morning, showing two red lines.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

"Well, to me, this is still a gift. And it's not one I'm willing to return!"

While Oliver sat motionless in shock, Evelyn burst into tears and stormed away from the man she didn't recognize anymore.

Months passed, and Evelyn and Oliver's love that had been so carefully built over the past years started to crumble because of the prolonged silence.

Evelyn didn't notice that Oliver was always parked in front of the hospital where she got her pregnancy scans and tests.

Oliver didn't remember that Evelyn's anger was just one honest conversation away from diffusing.

One Sunday afternoon, and nine months after that fateful dinner, Oliver was in the hospital's parking lot, pacing back and forth, hoping his wife was okay.

Inside, Evelyn was getting ready to bring her long-awaited child into the world.

Oliver spent the whole day trying to talk to Evelyn's family, but nobody would engage him.

For the eleventh time that day, Oliver went up to the floor where Evelyn was. Only this time, the doctor greeted him with a smile.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

"Congratulations, sir! It's a girl." Oliver waited outside Evelyn's room, bracing himself to be told never to come back again.

Instead, Evelyn signaled her family to let him in.

"Come, see your baby girl."

Nothing prepared Oliver for the beauty that was about to fill his eyes. At that moment, when he looked at his baby's angelic face, tiny fingers, and toes, he felt something break within him.

Every feeling of resistance, every fear, every shred of doubt suddenly evaporated into thin air.

"This is...my daughter. She's the most divine thing in this universe," he slowly said as he gave words to his feelings with tears pouring down his cheeks.

"Evelyn, baby. I'm so sorry for the way I reacted all those months ago. Not a day has passed that I haven't thought about it, about you, and everything I became blind to. I have wanted to run to you and ask for your forgiveness. I never knew how much I wanted to raise a baby with you until this moment, right here. Can you...forgive me?"

Looking at the man who had kindness in his eyes and a voice that was heavy with emotion, Evelyn knew that her old Oliver was back.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

"Of course I forgive you!" Evelyn tried to nod as she leaned toward her husband to comfort him. He met her halfway and they shared a tender embrace. Watching their daughter move ever so gently in her sleep, the new parents knew their lives had changed forever.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who knew his wife was infertile. He was shocked to hear her call a teenage girl her daughter.

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Woman Gives Up Career to Have Kids, On 3rd Wedding Anniversary Turns Out Her Husband Is Childfree Story of the Day - AmoMama

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Woman Kicking Out Brother’s Girlfriend and Kid for Lack of ‘Respect’ Backed – Newsweek

Posted: at 8:21 am

A woman has been backed for kicking her brother's girlfriend and child out of her house during Sunday dinner.

A now-viral Reddit post detailing what happened and shared to the subreddit "Am I the A**hole?" has received more than 5,700 upvotes since being posted on September 26.

The 31-year-old woman, posting as u/DinnerDisasters, states she has a "great relationship" with her family and they enjoy dinner together most Sundays.

On September 25, it was the original poster's turn to host at her home. She cooked a roast chicken with all of the trimmings for her parents, her mom's best friend, husband, and her 27-year-old brother.

But an hour ahead of arriving, her brother texted to say his 32-year-old girlfriend and her nine-year-old daughter would be coming too.

She explains: "It wasn't a huge deal but a little more notice would have been appreciated. His girlfriend and her kid are 'vegetarian.' I set two more places at the table and figured with all of the sides there was enough they could eat.

"I'll be honest, we don't really care for his girlfriend but my family has a rule you don't mess with other people's relationships, my brother is an adult. Becky just seems very opportunistic and her kid is very weird."

"They've been together eight months and have broken up twice and after six, she asked if she could move into his place because it's in a better school district than her apartment."

The original poster says that dinner "hit the fan" from the moment they sat down as Becky's daughter asked where her imaginary friend "April" could sit.

She says: "She starts shrieking that April needs to eat and having a tantrum. My mom tried to calm things down suggesting she share her place and seat which she refuses, demanding a chair and plate. Her mom tells me to just set a spot. My dining room table has eight chairs all in use."

The kid got louder and began "tossing" herself to the ground.

"I get flustered and tell her to please get her to stop. Becky then goes on the attack calling me rude and heartless for not giving in to her kid. She also says that she knows I 'hate' kids and that's why we don't have any. We are childfree but I like my friends' kids, not brats."

The argument then escalated as Becky called u/DinnerDisasters "rude" for not offering a vegetarian-friendly main and putting bacon in the Brussel sprouts.

"I snapped back I didn't know they were coming and I wasn't the one who invited her. So she's screaming at me in my home, the kid is flailing on the ground crying and I had enough. I told her if she couldn't respect me in my home then she should leave. She screams at my brother to get up they're leaving and he informs her he is staying."

The original poster describes everyone as "shocked" including her brother.

"She's now slamming me and my family on social media and accusing us of trying to break them up," says u/DinnerDisasters.

PairedLife, an online magazine with relationship advice, has revealed what you should do if your family dislikes your partner.

Reddit users have flocked to the post, with the top comment receiving over 9,300 upvotes. It says: "Not the a**hole. And good on your brother for his wise decision. I'm glad he's not enabling her. Be a good listener for him because I suspect his relationship is over and he'll need someone."

Another writes: "I know the rule in your family is to not interfere in relationships, but few rules are absolute or have no exceptions. I think it's time to sit down with your brother and talk to him about his relationship.

"Do your best not to come off as being against her, but as being concerned for him. Every problem with her, you need to make it about him. Stuff you don't like personally about her, never bring up. Maybe just offer to listen and then offer advice but don't give it if he refuses it."

"Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see what's really going on. Sometimes it takes a real public incident that can't be sanely denied, like this, to make people open to talking about things. Just be sure to be there for your brother and make sure he knows that's why you are there."

Newsweek reached out to u/DinnerDisasters for comment. We could not verify the details of the story.

Have you noticed any red flags that made you end a relationship? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

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Woman Kicking Out Brother's Girlfriend and Kid for Lack of 'Respect' Backed - Newsweek

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