Not everyone wants to be a parent, which might seem like shocking news, but it’s the truth. For some, it’s a chosen lifestyle; for others, it can be just how their life turned out. Regardless, it can be difficult for a childfree person to take on a kid suddenly due to unexpected circumstances.
A woman on Reddit shared the difficult circumstances that led her to take in an 11-year-old child even though she waschildfree. She provided insight into the complex situation and let people know the steps she took to look after the child.
More info:Reddit
Woman’s best friend and his wife died in an accident, leaving behind their 11-year-old daughter, Amy
Image credits:Pavel Danilyuk (not the actual photo)
The girl had to move in with her grandparents, but they struggled to look after her because of their health
Image credits:RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
The poster and her fiancé, who were previously childfree, decided to take Amy in because they had the money, space, and cared for her a lot even though it was a huge adjustment for them
Image credits:Karolina Grabowska (not the actual photo)
Amy kept trying to be on her best behavior out of the fear of upsetting them or being sent away, but the poster and her fiancé assured her that their love was unconditional
Image credits:u/SeaCan5697
The woman even set up a trust fund for Amy and wanted her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding because of how much Amy resembled the woman’s deceased best friend and his wife
The only thing that complicated matters was the fact that the poster and her fiancé were childfree. The common misconception is that people who don’t want kids hate them, but that can’t be farther from the truth. According toAmy Blackstone, childfree people consider their relationships with children special because they don’t have kids of their own.
They also worked to set up a trust for Amy using the money that her parents left behind and the funds from their insurance policies. The woman and her partner also decided to keep adding money to the trust and save it all for the child’s future.
Image credits:Annushka Ahuja (not the actual photo)
Despite the unique situation that the poster and her partner found themselves in, they managed to take it in stride. According toThe Conversation, “There are many different types of nonparents: ‘Childfree’ people do not want children; ‘childless’ people want children but can’t have them; ‘not-yet parents’ plan to have children in the future; ‘undecided’ people aren’t sure they will have children; and ‘ambivalent’ people aren’t sure they would have wanted children.” In this case, OP and her significant other had decided not to havechildren.
Some of the factors influencingwomen’sdecisionto go childfreeinclude an increase in university education, economic uncertainty, unaffordable housing, and shifting lifestyles and mindsets. Many people argue that child-free people won’t be satisfied with their lives as they age, butresearchhas found thatpeople who don’t want kidsare equally as satisfied with their lives as everyone else.
Commenters were in awe of the grace with which the couple took on a new role as Amy’s caregivers
Thanks! Check out the results:
Parenting
