What to Avoid Saying to Child-Free Couples
Child-free couples are people who have made the conscious decision not to have children. The reasons behind the decision not to have children are very diverse and are personal. However, not everyone shares the child-free couples’ views on the subject.
Child-free couples probably won’t want to hear the following:
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You’re Still Young. You’ll Change Your Mind
While some child-free couples do eventually change their minds and decide to add children to their family, many stick with their decision and are happy with what they have decided. But some well meaning individuals such as friends or relatives make this remark without considering how patronizing it really is. It implies that the couple are young and immature and that as they “mature” they will come to their senses and decide to become parents. Unless the couple voluntarily admit that they have changed their minds, do not seek to change it for them!
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Here’s My Doctor’s Number
Unless a couple ask you for your doctor’s phone number so that they can discuss fertility issues, the chances are that they do not have any problems in that department. Child-free couples are not the same as childless couples who desperately want to start a family but are unable to do so. Offering this piece of advice is insulting and assumes that there is a problem when oftentimes there is no medical reason barring couples from having children. The decision has been made after a lot of thoughtful consideration and discussion.
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Who Will Take Care of You when You Are Old?
While many cultures around the world are renowned for the way in which aged parents are cared for by their adult children and grandchildren, the same cannot be said for families as a whole in America. Some families have adapted their family circumstances and moved their parents into their homes to be with them, this is still not the norm. There are so many other alternatives open to elderly people in need of extra support. More often than not, that help is not provided by adult children. So it is no guarantee that even if a couple does have children that the children will be in a position to provide round the clock care for their aged parents.
Couples who have reached the decision to remain child-free should not have to hear rude or intrusive comments such as the ones that have been discussed. A couple’s personal life should not become gossip fodder for friends or relatives.
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