Becoming aparentis a special moment that many people can’t wait for. But for some, such a moment comes as more of a surprise than for others.

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Starting a family is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly

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Image credits:Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Military personnel lined up outside a hangar, wearing masks and uniforms.

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While many people can’t wait to become parents, some choose to remain child-free

Needless to say, raising a child is a huge responsibility; one that people should think long and hard about before trying to wave down astork carryinga bundle of joy. And while some are ready to bear said responsibility and face any challenges—and joys—that parenthood brings, some people are simply not willing to undergo all that it entails.

Consequently, many people nowadays choose to remainchild-free. A Pew Research Centersurveycarried out earlier this year found that out of child-free adults aged 50 and over, roughly a third said that the reason they didn’t have offspring was simply because they never wanted to. (A similar number of respondents said they didn’t find the right partner to have kids with and roughly 40% shared that it “just never happened” for them.)

Close to 40% of respondents reported that they did want to have kids at one point in their lives, and roughly a quarter admitted that they were never sure about it.

Many children in the US live in single-parent households

Woman And Her Dad Demand Guy Raises Baby That’s Not Even His

Image credits:Tanaphong Toochinda / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

While some people plan on becoming parents and others don’t, unexpected things in life happen all the time, and they can make one change any plans they had fairly quickly. Some change in life entails individuals with kids becoming single parents, and that is in no way a rare scenario nowadays.

According to Pew Research Center’sdata from 2019, the US had the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Close to a quarter (23%) of kids in the US under the age of 18 lived with one parent and no other adults, which is more than three times the share of kids around the world who live in one-parent households (7%).

According toStatista, more children in single-parent households live with their mother only; last year, the number of such kids was roughly 15,000, while those living with a single dad only added up to just over 3,000 kids. Somesources suggestthat moms aged 16 to 19 comprise less than 1% of single parents.

Text discusses teen obtaining restraining order against a girl and her parents, emphasizing no responsibility for the baby.

Fellow netizens didn’t hold back their opinions on the situation and the probable motives of the soon-to-be-mom

Reddit discussion about teen refusing responsibility for someone else’s baby.

Reddit comment supporting teen who refuses to raise a baby that’s not his, praising dad’s advice.

Reddit discussion about teen refusing responsibility for a baby that’s not his, with comments on the situation.

Online forum discussion about a teen refusing parental responsibilities for a child that’s not biologically his.

Reddit comment thread discussing a teen refusing responsibility for a child that’s not his.

Reddit comment discussion with advice about refusing to raise a non-biological child.

Reddit comment discussing whether a teen is a “real man” for not raising a child that’s not his.

Comment criticizing manipulation in relationships, suggesting caution to a young man.

Reddit comment discussing a teen’s decision not to raise a baby that’s not his, with 8.7k points.

Comment screenshot about a teen refusing to raise a baby that’s not his, saying, “NTA Run, don’t walk. This is wrong and just WRONG.

Comment screenshot about a teen refusing responsibility for a baby not his, discussing manipulation and personal dreams.

Reddit comment supporting teen’s decision not to raise a baby that’s not his.

Reddit comment discussing teen refusing to raise a baby, with user reaction.

Reddit comment discussing teen’s refusal to raise non-biological baby, questioning family dynamics.

Reddit comment offering advice on relationships and personal decisions.

Reddit comment responding to a request about a teen and baby, calling it insane.

Comment on masculinity and responsibility in relationship context.

Reddit comment reading “NTA. Run Forrest RUN,” related to refusing to raise a child not one’s own.

Reddit user comments on a post about a teen refusing to raise a non-biological child.

Text screenshot about a teen refusing to raise a baby that’s not his, with strong opinions shared.

Text from an online forum discussing a teen refusing to raise a non-biological baby.

Comment supporting a teen’s choice not to raise a baby that’s not his.

Comment discussing a teen’s decision about raising a baby, with supportive feedback.

Reddit post screenshot discussing a scenario where a teen refuses responsibility for a baby that’s not his.

Text response discussing advice about military relationships and obligations.

Some people, jokingly, suggested that the OP was being a jerk

Text screenshot discussing manliness and responsibility in raising a baby not biologically his.

User comment discussing military career options and advice to ignore a pregnant woman.

Reddit comment discussing responsibility for “our kids” and stepping up.

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