What does the term 'childfree' mean to you?

Question

Is it different to childless? Should it be used more often as there are more and more couples opting not to have children.

Answer 1

Being childfree means the person does not have or want children. If you ask someone, "Do you have children?" and he or she (or they if you're addressing a couple) say, "No, we're childfree," that means you don't have to ask if they're planning to have any in the future, and you don't have to ask if they've seen a doctor about that, etc. They don't have them and they don't want them, end quote. That means that you're free to talk to them about work, politics, literature, the weather, movies, etc., because children are a non-issue for them.

Naturally, of course, there are people who listen to a man or woman or couple say, "We don't have children and don't want any," and think they're saying:

"We don't want children NOW, but would welcome a discussion of how great of parents we'd be if you and only you would talk us into it,"
OR
"We have some dread medical condition that prevents us from having children, and would welcome your unsolicited pity,"
OR
"We don't have children and aren't going to have any in the future, but are simply dying to give all our money and time to your children,"
OR
"We don't have children and don't want them, and want to hear all about how having children is mandatory in your religion like that trumps all arguments,"
OR
"We don't have children and don't want them, and that of course means that we hate all children everywhere and want them all to die, which necessitates abusing us like dangerous criminals."

What it really means is: "We don't have kids, aren't planning to have any, and are happy this way." End discussion. No one needs to project any more onto that.

Upon being introduced to a childfree couple, just say "How do you do, John? How do you do, Jane?"

Easy peasy.

Answer 2

Childfree is partly about contentment with the fact that you don't have kids (i.e. we're not any "less") and partly about the permanence of that choice.

A couple who do not want children and are committed to never having them in the future is paradigmatic.

However, it is also possible that people who did once want children and discover they are infertile can become childfree. To do so is to stop trying to have children and to focus instead on the positive aspects of one's life without children. This is a disputed and less common usage, and the mainstream childfree community may dispute it, but it seems to be a useful term in fertility groups.

I think that the separate term is important - not just because the term childless has negative implications but also because the childless need their own word. For those of us who have chosen not to have children, it would be embarrassing to be on the receiving end of sympathy if we were to tell people we're childless.

Likewise, without our own term there is a danger that the childless-by-choice (a term too cumbersome to suffice) would co-opt the word. Then when infertile couples say that they are childless, people would start assuming they don't want kids!

These are two very distinct groups of people, and each deserves their own word. "Childfree" is the best way we have found thus far to let people know that our childless status is permanent and does not indicate an inability to bear children.

Answer 3

Being childfree is quite a different thing from being childless. A childless person might still want children, and may even be undergoing fertility treatments. A childless person is potentially still open to the idea of parenthood, which a childfree person is definitely not. My spouse and I are old enough to be grandparents, had we bothered having children...which we didn't. We made a decision many years ago to not have children, and we're very, very happy with our decision to remain childfree.

Answer 4

I consider myself to be childfree. That means that I'm never going to have kids, by a conscious decision. I am absolutely not interested in becoming a parent. That's a far cry from childless, which means that I might still be interested, but medically incapable. I'm quite capable, but have chosen not to have any children. Not now, and not ever. So, I'm childfree.

Answer 5

Childfree is the perfect description of those couples who are not going to be the best of parents and reflects so accurately their attitude to the resonsibilities associated with family life. It's their choice and children are better off for not knowing them.

I am childFREE!Reasons are as follows: abuse, genetic flaws, inherited illnesses, heart disease, and so on down the lne. YOU might want to put innocent kids through that, I choose not to. Childfree means taking responsibility for my choice not do do that. Besides, I'm not overly fond of loudmouth, screeching, free roaming kids.

Answer 6

We are a group of adults who all share at least one common desire: we do not wish to have children of our own. We are teachers, doctors, business owners, authors, computer experts - you name it. We choose to call ourselves "childfree" rather than "childless," because we feel the term "childless" implies that we're missing something we want - and we aren't. We consider ourselves childFREE - free of the loss of personal freedom, money, time and energy that having children requires.

Answer 7

It means a lifestyle choice. "Childless" implies that you might still be wanting children or trying to have them, but you haven't managed to yet. "Childfree" means that you do not want children and are not trying to have them, and in fact, will never have them. There's a big difference. A childfree person (like myself) has made a personal and voluntary decision to never have children.

Answer 8

Mean u want to have spend quality time urself or with your husband romantically. U take them to their grandparents or babysitter.

childfree means being free of children, free of many of the obligations, responsibilities and other parental duties that having children includes. It usually means a happy state of being in which no lack is felt without children.

Suppose you and your hubby would liek to go on getaway cruise to have fun and pleasrue yourself. Less of stress and nervous breakdown.

For my understanding, "Childless" means no children or without offspring. This kind of negative word for this term. Women who have had health or medical issues such as, misscariages or abortion etc.

Answer 9

it seems to be a modern term for childless, i guess childless gives the idea that you are 'less' but child free is a more positive term meaning you're 'free' from children, particularly for those who want to have children. I have no children, by choice but would never say i'm 'childless' becuase it sounds like i want them but can't have them...

Answer 10

Well it depends what you are looking at !
if it says that on a can of tuna , you know no children are present in your meal , or no children where killed in the process of harvesting your tuna!

If your date tells you that he/she is childfree there are no children present during your date or at any other time!

If you bought a shirt at wall mart , and the label reads childfree that would mean that no poor little children worked 16 hour days to manufacture your shirt , but you can bank on it that it is a stinking lie!

hope this helps!