Hey, guess what happened today! I bumped into an old childhood friendher names Margaret, and shes the same age as me, just turned 60. After we finished university, she packed up her bags and left our little town without looking back. For a while, we sent each other letters, but eventually, life got in the way and we lost touch.
It was only through mutual friends that I heard news about her. Apparently, Margaret was always on the movetravelling, never staying in one place, changing partners more often than most change haircuts. By the time she hit fifty, she was already onto her third husband, but even that marriage didnt last. Shed never had any children, which I never really understood. So many women choose to have kids for their own sakeeven if things dont work out with a bloke, at least youve got a child, and later maybe grandkids to fill your life.
Anyway, Margaret recently came back to our town. She needed to sell her parents old houseshed been renting it out, but decided it was time to let it go. We finally caught up for a chat, shared whats been happening in our lives. At one point, I just blurted out, Margaret, why did your life turn out the way it did? Why didnt you ever have kids? At least for yourself, you know? Someone to make you a cup of tea when youre old!
She just laughed right at me and said, A cup of tea? How often do your children actually bring you anything? Kids these days dont look after their parents. Its honestly easier to save up a bit and hire a decent carer than bother asking your kids. I never had children because I simply didnt want to. I didnt fancy worrying about someone else, looking after them, or giving them money. I decided I wanted my own lifefor my own enjoyment. I wanted to travel, see the world, earn my own money. My husbands left me purely because I refused to have kids.
Margaret went on, Even now, I live for myself. I dont have to babysit grandkids or work myself to the bone supporting grown-up children who cant stand on their own two feet.
She told me she doesnt regret anything. If anything, she pities the ones who had a house full of kids and now end up sitting alonethen blaming them for moving abroad or forgetting about them altogether. Margaret doesnt have that worry.
I sat there listening to her, and honestly, she made sense. Why bother going through all that if its not what you want? Why pin your hopes on having kids just to be looked after in your old age? No one owes anyone anything, really.
What do you think? Would love to hear your thoughts.
