15.
“I’m in my 60s and have been happily married for 30+ years — without children. Most of the time, I’m happy about our decision. Sometimes, my husband and I both wish that circumstances had been different and that we had someone that we could count on to be there when we get old. However, our reasons for not having children still stand…
“1. We both felt the world was moving in a direction that can’t be sustained. Research on global climate change wasn’t part of the picture, but ecologically unsound practices were.
2. We’re both from families where there are plenty of children and grandchildren. So, our genes will be represented, without more taken from the available resources.
3. We both endured teasing about our physical appearances and didn’t want our children to suffer the same.
4. We’d both been exposed to more-than-average levels of radiation and didn’t want to risk it.
5. Personally, I was concerned about being a good parent. (My husband, on the other hand, would have been amazing.)
6. By the time we were in a position to support having children, I felt I was too old. I’m the child of a 40-year-old mother who had five children before me and one after — and although I would never have told her this, I really felt that some of us didn’t get the time and energy that her eldest got. I didn’t want to do that to another being.
Instead of having kids, we participated in helping those already here, in a number of ways. In the end, we wish circumstances had been different, but do not regret our decision.”
—u/SheSellsSeashellsBts
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/child-free-and-over-50