Do childless couples regret it when they reach their 50's?

Sounds like a bunch of immature adults who should’ve had a cat and plant instead like the rest of these guys

Actually it's....

Tell us again about that guy who went straight from high school to pro football grandpa, so he got mad because he couldn't fly himsef to the games?

I love my kids, and my grandkids, but honestly if I could go back and do it all over again with the knowledge I have now, I'd not have kids/family.

Once I'm dead, I won't care whether my genetic line lives on or not.

It would be nice to retire early and enjoy my own life while I am still healthy and [relatively] young - which I could have done already, had I not lived hand-to-mouth for 25 years while raising them, paying for their college, etc. As it is, I'll probably have to work until I am 70 to retire, and frankly, I'll probably outlive them anyway.

But what's done is done. I want the best for my kids and grandkids. It would have been nice to live my life for me, though.

Those in favor of kids usually have had their children grow up and be moderately successful at interacting with others. There are many who have children who grow up to be jerks or addicts, or both! I don't envision someone wanting to spending holidays with a family full of scumbags, but that's just me.

As for those saying they want someone to take care of them when they're older, again that is not a guarantee. I have seen families where the adult children want nothing to do with the parents and drop them off in a home or just let them rot in isolation. Of course, I have also seen where one child does all the work and cares for the parents. Still a big roll of the dice and not a valid reason for having children.

I agree that once you die what does it really matter about "legacy." In 100 years nobody is going to give 2 rips about your existence. At some point the planet will implode along with our "legacy."

I respect your honesty but....wow.... that kind of blows my mind that someone who has raised [ apparently] decent, fairly successful children can look back and say:...ehhhh/ arghhh.... I wish they had never been born.

That's hard for me to imagine. IMHO it ain't a great reflection upon you.

[ on the other hand I know parents that have raised an addict that has caused them countless hardship, heartache and tears, and bled them of so much money [ not to mention all the pain the child herself has experienced] and yet....I still highly doubt they would say: if we could do it all over again we would not have that child. In that example maybe they should feel that way however this is an extremely painful example ]

Eh my mother regrets getting married and having a family as well. She’s a great grandmother, 3 of her 4 kids are very successful, and travels a lot around the world at age 70.

But she’s also confided in me that she regrets having a family and not living life for herself.

*She does great as a grandmother

I'll never know b/c I was dumb enough to have 3. Zero regrets though.

I guess it depends on your culture and upbringing. For example, White Americans typically have weak family bonds and send their grandparents to nursing homes. For many other cultures, especially Hispanic ones this is not acceptable and they often have adult kids often visiting their elders. In general White Americans have a weak bond with family , especially elders. Considering that the majority of letsrun posters are White Americans, it makes sense that the concept of having kids is a choice and considered burdensome , because it’s a part of American culture. Again with Hispanic culture, Middle Eastern culture (Muslim), African culture, not having kids is seen as a problem and couples can even be shamed.

Life is far better when you aren't all that wrapped up in yourself. It shoujd be about family not me me what about me?

Why are the only two options “being wrapped up in yourself” and “being about family”? The world would be a better place if we cared more about our fellow human beings and less about our own personal fiefdoms.

Not so much, but almost every childless couple I know babies their dogs and talks to them more than you would actual kids. Certainly something mentally deeper going on there.

Eh..... I wish your mom never had kids either. Because then she would have not have raised a selfish POS like yourself. So your mom and me agree!

[ what a soft bunch of lame a$$ and M'effers your family is]

Yes there's nothing more sad than childless couples treating their pets like children. Like really REALLY sad.

LOL. That's hilarious and stupid. I don't need grubby whiny kids around to have a "full" life. Kids are not allowed in our house. Family with small kids know better than to bring them around...

Meanwhile they are wallowing in bad health and mental illness and blaming you, right?

Total A+ for the athletes who left conventional training environments and went back to their roots and received very individualized attention, outside larger groups, ie Hocker, Fisher, Hull.

No. simply no: do not regret it.

late sixties now, happily married for forty years. Wake up every morning and think: thank god i married my wife. Thank god we never had kids. Happily childless dog man and dog lady.

I'm the youngest of 6 kids in my family and never had kids. All my older siblings have kids that are fully grown and moved out, yet they rarely visit our mom who is 86 and in assisted living. I visit her weekly and take care of all her affairs, leave work early to drive her to doctor appointments, contribute to her monthly rent, and countless other things.

Somehow, I got "appointed" the caretaker of our mom while my 5 siblings sit on sidelines doing virtually nothing. It's pathetic, and when I call them out for lack of caring, they act like victims.