Dear LPG, 

I was browsing the internet today and I found yet another one of those celebratory days that was started in America.  Since 1973, August 1st has been celebrated as International Childfree Day and this is a day dedicated to the celebrations of those who have chosen not to have children.

I found some survey-based online information which tells that these days in the western world it is thought that 25% of our young people make a positive decision not to have children, while another study informs us that about 14% have problems trying.  Yet another website informs that IVF treatment costs thousands of pounds per cycle and only one in three cycles are successful. 

All those statistics leave me wondering just how many of those people who have not become parents, have concluded that it is better to tell the world that they decided against it rather than that it did not happen for them.

The other point is that parenthood is a bit of a lottery.  We have very little control over what sort of children we produce.  While science can forewarn us of any medical conditions they might have and start treating them before the little ones are born, they can even tell us if a boy or girl is on the way, but they cannot ensure that you get what you want.   Will they be supportive or disappear out of our lives as soon as they are old enough?  Will they make you proud or end up being a challenge?   

Apparently one way of celebrating is to acknowledge all the things that you have been able to achieve because you have not had to put the time and effort into parenthood but, I am now in my eighties and when I listen to what some of my now much older friends have to say on the subject, whether they have kids or not, many can think of reasons why being in the opposite camp would have been advantageous.

I think we should all be celebrating whether we have contributed to the future population of the planet or not…

HG, Forest Hill

ormation about International Childfree Day…

(►►►)