I find it fascinating that people who choose not to have children are generally assumed to feel really strongly about not having children (or even to feel really strongly against children, anyone’s children, in general). I am probably not going to have children, not because I REALLY REALLY HATE the idea of having children, but because I don’t really really love it. Out of all the major decisions I will make in my life, this one is the only irreversible one. I can sell a house, quit a job, divorce a spouse, whatever. I cannot unhave a child. I cannot opt out of being a parent once I become a parent. I can’t even take a step back for the sake of self-care or whatever, or else my child will suffer.
So for me, having children is fuck yes or not at all. The default will be to remain childfree. Having children should be an opt-in decision, not an opt-out one. Until/unless I develop really strong feelings about wanting to have children, I won’t have them, even if that means I never end up having them at all.
This is really, REALLY well put.
This is a great post – my tiny contribution is that, certainly for me and some people i know, not wanting to become a parent is more about the concept of pregnancy than our thoughts about children.
Guys really be out here thinking I won’t smash a wine bottle over their head
I recommend a beer bottle or a glass tumbler. Wine bottles are very hard to shatter, and you’re more likely to split a man’s skull open and cause permanent “attempted murder”-type brain damage, and you want to teach them a lesson not, like, become a convicted felon.
Nice, Thanks for the tip! I’m not a pussy and i can bury a body, but this could help someone else!
Rick Riordan is also using his money and fame to lift marginalized authors. He started a whole imprint called Rick Riordan Presents. The books published there have mythology and folklore from all over the world, and they’re written by authors who actually belong to those cultures. The first three books announced have stories based in Korean, Mayan, and Indian cultures, written by Yoon Ha Lee, Jennifer Cervantes, and Roshani Chokshi respectively.
Rick Riordan is pretty fucking cool. Ive never seen a YA put as much care and effort into growing as a writer, specifically with a focus on increasing diversity, as him.
The fact that he’s a UT alum from San Antonio who taught middle school English just warms my heart.
PLEASE click on the link to his Stonewall acceptance speech my god you won’t regret it
And then for every name you get in your askbox, you must fill out the following character profile for said oc:
Full Name:
Gender and Sexuality:
Pronouns:
Ethnicity/Species:
Birthplace and Birthdate:
Guilty Pleasures:
Phobias:
What They Would Be Famous For:
What They Would Get Arrested For:
OC You Ship Them With:
OC Most Likely To Murder Them:
Favorite Movie/Book Genre:
Least Favorite Movie/Book Cliche:
Talents and/or Powers:
Why Someone Might Love Them:
Why Someone Might Hate Them:
How They Change:
Why You Love Them: