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Wanting child-free future isn't up for debate

Nov. 29, 2006

By SARAH VIESCA

A few weeks ago, I found myself defending Rachael Ray to some fanatics who were criticizing her for comments she made in a 20/20 interview about her decision not to have kids.

Ray, who in addition to her five television shows has a monthly magazine with Reader's Digest and an array of cookbooks, said, "I love children, and having a child doesn't make sense to me because my workload is too great."

While I don't happen to be a Ray fan, I have to say I applaud her honesty and understand her decision because I don't want kids either.When people find out about my no-kid policy, they either joke about it with me and tell me I'm going to end up having 10 kids, or they make some nasty comments.

My favorite is when people call me selfish and lecture me on how my life has no purpose, and then expect me to argue with them. To tick them off a little more, I like to walk away and leave them talking to themselves.

I don't believe I need to justify myself to someone who's just insulted me. Some people aren't cut out to be parents, and I know with 100 percent certainty I am not. Women all over the United States with different careers, incomes, religions and ethnicities prefer to be child -free because they like their lives the way they are or just don't feel they have the maternal instinct inside of them.

Of course, I didn't come to this decision on a whim. There was a time in the distant past when I thought I would have kids, but my attitude changed as I became more goal-oriented and watched other family members raise their kids.

I have a list of goals I'd like to accomplish, which includes: graduating college, writing for a newspaper or magazine for a few years, going back to graduate school, becoming a high school teacher and traveling during my time off.

This is how I envision my life, and all the things I have planned don't involve having kids. Having a child would change my lifestyle, and I like being independent, committed to my goals and worry-free.

Watching my cousin raise a child solidified my decision even more. He and his girlfriend had a baby two years ago, and while watching him try to raise a child is entertaining, I'd prefer not to deal with the stunts a 2-year-old pulls.

Kids like to run around as if they were the Tasmanian Devil, causing chaos along the way. While I wouldn't say I'm a neat person, I do like my things in order and not all over the house.

Not wanting kids doesn't mean I don't like kids. I love spending time with my cousin's daughter and playing with my friends' kids. I just like them even more when at the end of the day I can leave them with their parents.

I also don't think it's wrong if you want kids. For those who do want kids, kudos to you because it's no easy task. I just don't think people with kids should feel they're better than me because there's nothing wrong with my decision.

Sarah Viesca is a junior journalism major from El Paso.

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