WORDS:
HARRIET
BULLOUGH.
PHOTOS:
OLIVER
DIXON/THE
SUN/NEWS
LICENSING,
VAGNER
VIDAL/INS
NEWS
AGENCY
LTD/THE
SUN/NEWS
LICENSING
Thehappiestwomenarethosewhodon’t
havechildren,accordingtoexperts.We
speaktotwowholovetheirindependence
CHILD FREE
We’re happier being
Samantha Fields, 34, is a wellness
coach from Woodley. Between
hobbies, socialising and date nights
with her partner – maintenance
supervisor Kevin, 50 – she doesn’t
have time for children.
I’m very busy. I like spending
time with friends and being able
to be spontaneous about it. I’d
hate the idea of having to rigidly
schedule time with people and
being limited to two hours before
my childcare runs out.Busy routine
At least twice a week, Kevin
and I go out for dinner or see a
show. Our time is precious and
we fill it as much as possible.
We drink with friends and have
dinner parties and weekends away.
I like kids but I don’t see how they
would fit in. I have no idea how we
would juggle childcare with our
social life. We wouldn’t be able to
afford it. Also, if we decide to stay
out or crash at a friend’s place after
a late night, we can.
I’d hate to feel like I had a curfew
to get back to a babysitter. It would
ruin everything. It’s just not the life
I want. I have thought about thefuture and it does worry me.
Financially, it could be a huge
burden without any children to
help. And I can tell that some
women judge my choices.Common assumptions
I’ll often get asked when I’m
going to have kids. It’s always a
bit awkward explaining that I don’t
want any children.
I have been called selfish.
I don’t think it’s selfish to not have
kids. You’re just making a choice,
and there’s nothing wrong with
that. We love our life and we’re
not going to change
it for something
we don’t want.
I surround myself
with supportive
people who
understand
my choices, so
strangers don’t
really bother me.
My mum was fine about my
decision. If she had the same
choices available to her as we
do today, she wouldn’t have had
children herself. It’s great she
understands my perspective.‘IT’S ALWAYS A BIT AWKWARD
EXPLAINING TO PEOPLE THAT I DON’T
WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN’
‘I HAVE BEEN
CALLED
SELFISH’