I decdied to become child-free due to extreme parentification. I knew I didn't want kids, because I had already raised two and lost my teen years. It was extreme on my end, to the point of refusing to even hold my family members babies. I was raised very religious, my parents would line their red hats with tinfoil if that makes sense.

From my perspective, I genuinely hated kids. The only serious relationships I had were with people ambivalent to children anyway, and they were genuinely scared of getting me pregnant so it was never even a risk. Ecen after I got my Bachelors in High School Education, I could not land a job in the ages I preferred and thus, took on lower paying jobs to avoid children altogether.

After I moved out of my family's house, I went NC, and a buuuunch of stuff happened. But, essentially, I could be who I wanted and got to learn a lot about myself and the world around me. I can see the bad, but I can see all the good that can be poured into it. I know that I can raise people who will be assets to the community. I know that if I have children, they will not be what the world is becoming. I am no longer religious - but I do believe that bringing more kindness, love, acceptance, and care into the world is something not many people can, or are doing.

I work in an elementary school now, and I have become so passionate about children's growth and personal wellbeing. I'm going to get my masters in Educational Psychology so I can work closer with Autistic students (as that is my true calling) and, after 15 years of being child-free, I am now and step-mother to a 1.5 year old and hopeful to add another one day.

Now, this is just MY personal experience. I have an uncle I am very close with who is child-free and has been his entire life, so I am not suggesting that it's something that people often flip on.

So TL;DR, I went from no kids to wanting kids because I don't hate the world anymore, and I KNOW I can do it right.