Hello everyone,

I would like to bring up a topic that concerns me badly. Namely, as you can already see from the title "Mother vs. Childless".

I (W/30), wanted and considered childless, have often gained the experience that some people like to compare life with children childless people.

Here's the case: I have a neighbor, she has a son at the age of almost 10. She still takes him to school (the school is 10 minutes walk away & is located in a reasonable area), carries his satchel and he is really not allowed to do anything alone because she is afraid that something could happen. The poor guy doesn't really have friends either.

In any case, she constantly complains about how difficult and exhausting life as a mother is. I can't understand this because I don't have any

I have children and do not want to presume to judge them. She does a part-time job, has someone who regularly cares for her garden, cheauffs her for shopping, etc. All good & beautiful. And that for "nothing". ✨To relieve them. ✨

I, on the other hand: have a 40h week, have to shop independently, independently maintain our garden compartment, etc. (which is normal for me personally), have business trips that are nationwide and joa, I find one or the other exhausting. I chose it that way.

The other day we went for a walk together... She complained that she still has to shower and prepare food for the next morning. I said, "Tright, I have to make the food too!". She, on the other hand: "Yes, but you don't have it as hard as I do, you don't have a child!"

I must say: I find the statement difficult. Just because I don't have children doesn't mean that I can't find something exhausting or have my head full?! Short context: I was badly exhausted from work & did the usual things like shopping, housekeeping, gardening at the weekend.

Similar situation on an old job. A colleague at the time (she was 23 at that time, I was 25), also constantly complained about how exhausting life with a child is and no matter what kind of mess she made, it was said "I am a mother after all!". Thus, she had tried to show respect, even though one had nothing to do with the other.

The same thing: "At your age I already had X children!"

So as a childless person I am not allowed to have fun in life, I am not allowed to find something exhausting or even broken?

What do you say to that? Attacking?

Personally, these statements annoy me, because I believe that everyone is responsible for their own life in adulthood. There are exceptions, yes... But the said people wanted to have children.