I think hearing from parents and getting insight into their perspectives is interesting and worthwhile. Provided it’s not an unproductive dog pile of “you’ll never understand true love” or “you’re just selfish” nonsense. I’m secure in my position of being a childfree person, nothing another person says or thinks will change my mind or make me doubt myself or feel ashamed of my choice etc.

I’m childfree because I want to be and because I simply don’t want to raise children. I’m unlikely to regret not doing something I’ve never wanted to do in the first place. I also don’t want to be a surgeon or learn to play the oboe or dedicate my life to a religion or climb Everest or any number of things that take time and dedication and commitment and effort for a result/purpose I’m entirely uninterested in experiencing personally.

I also love and whole heartedly support my friends and loved ones who are parents. They have an immensely difficult job that I certainly don’t want to do, and they impress me all the time with how much care and dedication they pour into being parents. I learn so much by holding space for them and my perspectives on life are enriched by listening to theirs. My own choice to not parent is also consistently reinforced by their stories and shared experiences lol.

I feel like a live and let live approach goes a long way in supporting open and productive dialog when it comes to this particular subject.