Not every woman likes getting their period.

I love mine. Yeah, I'm more emotional and I'll get cramps and cravings and all that. But it's my "You're not pregnant" reminder.

And for that I love my uterus.

First, I'd like to say that this subreddit is an excellent idea! There are so many issues that deal with the decision to not become a mother that only women can relate to! I really see this as becoming a safe haven for CF women to let loose and gain insight, advice and friendship.

The interaction of CF women is seriously important, as we age it's almost always assumed that motherhood is on our minds whether or not we have personal aspirations. The choice to be childfree can be alienating, especially if you come from a family oriented region or family. Though there's a laundry list of added challenges to being a childfree female and they can cause just as much stress as a positive pregnancy test.

For one, the choice to be childfree as a woman tends to garner that slight glint of judgement in a mothers eyes that says, "You aren't a real woman yet." It's the look of shock and disbelief that anyone, especially a woman would not want a crotch dropping of her very own. Though for me these interactions are rare, I have read a number of stories where a proud childfree woman gets cut down and pissed off by an entitled mother who cannot see outside the bright blur of her child's halo.

I feel for these women, I feel for all women who choose not to become mothers for any reason. No one should ever feel inferior because they made the decision not to breed, it's simply atrocious that people automatically view you as less of a woman because you don't feel the need to reproduce.

In my short time on the original childfree sub, I have learned a lot from the strong, intelligent and focused women there. Yes, we may be the odd one out at times, but as a collective we are a strong community. When I first stumbled across the sub and it's colorful insults for children, I finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh thank god, I am normal."

How many of you were ever made to feel that, as a woman, not fawning over infants was somehow unnatural? When some women hear an infant cry it's like they can feel it's pain, and I'm mentally whispering, "Make it stop, make it stop make it stop."

I don't have anything against kids personally, I do remember being one for a short period but I wasn't exactly fond of children then either. I never thought babies were cute, when I was eight my niece was born and until she could adequately communicate I dreaded my older sisters visits back home.

Thing is I like kids when they're mentally stimulating, engaging and at not pooping themselves. My sisters kids are awesome, I'm a great aunt and try to be as involved as possible, but thankfully my family was realistic and didn't expect me to do diaper duty.

As women it's like the choice to not be a mother is unfathomable, and to some extent, I get it. The female body actually releases more endorphin's and dopamine when a woman looks at the face of her child, essentially making that little diaper devil the most expensive and addictive drug on the market. The thing I don't understand is why would you think lesser of someone for taking the role of motherhood seriously enough to decide that it's simply not for you?

There are the standard arguments, "It's different when it's yours." and the little gem, "You'll change your mind in a few years." Though nothing infuriates me faster than suggesting my life and marriage is somehow lacking because I don't have a child.

(If you aren't in a relationship, you can skip this. There are lots of CF unmarried ladies out there and I'm sorry for all the crap you get too, The world needs more independent women.)

Thing is you can't expect everyone to live out your way of life. Marriage and babies work for you? That's cool, but don't you try to tell me what my life needs and doesn't need, I think the one living my life knows me and my partner best. My husband isn't leaving, there's these other things we have together called similar interests and really good conversation.

It seems to me that women are evolving, there are enough people on the planet after all, reproduction was once the primary objective, but technology and globalization has put our world population at a staggering seven billion. Regardless of how far we've come, humans as a race have always tied child rearing and responsibility to women which we have to admit has hindered feminine advancements.

For the very reason that the woman is supposed to be at home, hands in the sink with two kids at the kitchen table we were viewed as an inferior gender for a really long time. We had to fight to vote, to hold down a job and even in today's times equal wages for working women is still a big issue.

So for the woman, who has said no to babies for whatever reason it may be, I salute you and I am proud to be childfree because we are fighting another societal expectation and demanding to be respected as more than just a propagation tool.

I thought it would be nice to have a topic where people could share pictures of their pets here, since some of the childfree definitely feel that their pets take the place of children!

Just got back from my brother's wedding weekend. I'm 29, F, CF, and don't agree with marriage as a state-sponsored thing. My brother's wedding was a beautiful ceremony. They had a blast. Although her family is hyper baby/marriage obsessed, and I was surrounded by my own family and friends, not one person asked me when I was planning to settle down, why I don't have kids or where my husband/boyfriend was. All anybody wanted to talk to me about was my awesome job, my ongoing education and my travels! My new aunt-in-law was even gushing about how pretty she thought my neck tattoos are! I just wanted to celebrate how amazing my family is and how thoughtful they are to everyone's different choices!

College? Career? Travel? Taking care of existing family members? Hobbies? Financial goals?

Sure, sex can lead to babies and all, but after 100 or so pages of fuzzy feels and smut it's all "I'm so excited to have his baby!" and "Zomg I'm gonna be a papa!" I think I need to stop reading about 20 pages before the end.

Anyone else?

There was a controversy about people posting pictures of their cars or whatever in /r/childfree a while ago, most likely because people were just karma whoring. But what I want to know is what do you have! What is your pride and joy, or something you know you would have to give up?

For me its my designer hand bag collection and my high end make up! It is ridiculous that amount of money I spend on Betsey Johnson and Dior, but it doesn't really matter, I don't have to answer to anyone. I grew up with Keds from Kmart and Wet N Wild eyeliner. I fucking LOVE that as an adult, if I see a new Betsey bag and want it, I can buy it. The only consequence being that I need to make sure my bills are paid and my dog is fed. I love spending $25 on mascara, because it is SO MUCH BETTER than Maybelline (Ok I don't actually love that I have to spend $25 on it, but you get my point.)

So my new best lady friends, tell me what you love to do with all the money you save by not having kids!

My husband is snipped, but I am not (I'm considering it). We are monogamous, but I am still paranoid about pregnancy given the way so many states are trying to get rid of abortion access altogether. Things go through my head like "What if his vasectomy fails" and "What if you were raped"?. I'm 35, and my mother had an early menopause at around my age, and I keep hoping I will start skipping periods soon. So far, you could set your calendar by me. :(

Hello! I just found this place, and I do belong. My name is Laura and I'm from Minnesota!

I hope you all have survived this holiday weekend as much as I have!!

The conversation came up between my SO and I about whether or not we'd accept responsibility for a young family member if something awful happened and the need for a new guardian arose. Even if it would be more hypothetical for you (if you lack immediate young family members), would you do it?

Mine don't have a name, and all the support groups are for ones with names. I can't take this anymore on my own, and the frustration of being put on a standard birth control and no way to keep track of it (phone too retarded to support more than a few alarms, not enough space to download an alarm app or a period tracker or anything).

I'm just getting over strep throat. I'm very lucky that I work with great people because they all helped out and covered my shift for me.

But, the point of this post is to say I do not know how I would have had the time and silence I needed to sleep and stuff my body with medicine, green tea and hot soup if I also had kids.

I'd need to take more time off work which would ultimately be less money for me and sick longer due to having to parent while being sick.

So hooray to small dogs. My Lily snuggled up to me for hours and was very patient with me when her supper was late because I was sleeping. I'm going back to work Friday and am so glad I'm childfree; more work, more money for travel and tattoos and road trips with my dogs.