I love my child and she is such a blessing from God and has enriched my life in ways I can't believe. It comes down to priorities. Why is it that seeing an art show is more important than taking care of another life? How selfish.

Jessica, Beckley, USA, WV

Really, I think that most of you are whiners who act too much like children to be parents anyway. So it is probably a plus that some of you are choosing not to reproduce.
But for the rest of us who are here and choose to have children, I say that it is really none of your business how many children we have. And of course we will outnumber you before too long.
For those who think children are polluting the environment: Maybe it's child haters that we should see less of and save our environment that way. Just a thought.

Jessica, Beckley, USA, WV

I never wanted a child but because of a highly correctable mistake we ended up having one. The result for me was something that I never experienced before...total collapse and depression. Real depression. I became a stay-at-home dad, moving away from my home town of Toronto where I had a wonderful job and a marvelous group of friends, to Ottawa, a provincial, conservative and unfriendly town where I know no one. Furthermore, the child that I care for is loud, confrontational and has "special needs" as he has Asperger's Syndrome, a flavour-of-the-month problem that supposedly denies the kid any social elan, which is certainly evident in this kid. Now I am poor, looking for low wage jobs and I am lonely and depressed. AND I HATE IT! Ms Maier's book cannot correct the stupid error, but it it so refreshing to know that I am not alone. After reading the responses on this page, I really know that I am not alone. Thank you, Ms Maier. You are a true friend.

John, Ottawa, Canada

I'm really happy I had kids, but I must confess a guilty pleasure in reading excerpts from this book -- the line about children being"cruel and evil dwarves" [sic] is classic and often true. Whenever my little daughter has a nasty tantrum, I think of that line and laugh it off. I think this book has value for parents -- as a sort of "therapy."

adam, vancouver, Canada/BC

I agree completely with Corinne. I have a 3 yrs old boy myself and seperated from his father. I'd give a lot of money to turn back the clock. It sounds cruel but it is the truth! But if you say that openly to anyvbody in your social circle, your a bad mother or even a bad person.
What she says about children being the main reason of seperations is true. When my son was born, his father just went on with his live, work, etc..leaving the house at 08h00 and coming back around 20h00 or late while I had to cope with my own job (I have my own company and work from home), the new born and the house. And he thought it was perfectly normal. After 3 months of discussion I kindly asked him to take his stuff and leave. I could not stand him being aroudn and do nothing I felt like a slave.
A child sucks out all the energie and makes you forget that once you had a real live of your own!! especially for the women...
I'm belgian but live in Spain.

Caroline, Barcelona,

I am mid 30 and was afraid having kids, for just the responsibilities around it. My parents were concerns. I thought I would never have kids and not even get married! I found my love one for almost 6 years we are together and married,.. big step and big surprise to everyone and myself. I have now a 11months boy, my pregnancy was great, he is the most wonderful gift I ever had and if I can have 10 more I will. The gift they give in return and the all love and share is something so special. I am sad when people choose not having kids.. I was part of them and now so happy I decided with my husband to change my mind... no matter what happens in the future, life is a risk no matter what you do if you do not do anything then what;s the point! what;s your real motivation in life? FYI I am French

Geraldine, Portland, OR USA

To all those happily childfree people - lucky (and smart) you! I wish I'd had the courage to say no to the pressure to have a child. I would never say my daughter is a mistake because after all it was my choice to have her and I accept that. Honestly though I despise the parenting part of having her in my life which has meant a total sacrifice of who I am. Now that Corinne has opened the gate I can admit that I find parenting bone-achingly unfulfilling. What a relief to know there are others like me out there.

Jayne, Melbourne, Australia

I have two children, now in their late twenties. To have children within a good marriage was my greatest wish. After an unhappy divorce I continued to try to bring them up to be happy, responsible and well educated adults. They were always, and still are, my first concern. (It's a hard habit to change.) But somewhere along the line I got it wrong. Always putting them first importance seemed to give them too much power and they seem now to be selfish and uncaring people. There has been precious little joy or enrichment in the whole process. Would I have had children if I knew then what I know now? No! I've always felt so guilty and somehow bad for thinking this way. So it's very refreshing to hear about Corinne Maier's book.

Tara, Lymington, UK

Well, when we don't multiply as a society, then our oh so pleasant society will cease to exist in 1-2 generations. And the other societies, you know, the less pleasant ones but with so many children, will claim the space with the remaining inhabitants. It's that simple.

Esme, Prague, CZ,

So I guess this is the ultimate result of the enlightenment - Western Civilization happy to commit suicide because of a misguided belief that they are helping the planet by not having children...

I wonder what will be written about us in the history books of the Asian and Middle Eastern civilizations of the future?

Steve, ottawa, Canada

Presumably the proudly childless will be expecting the offspring of the fertile to do all the work when they're retired, man the hospitals, give them their medicine. Imagine if the in work generation went on a tax strike. Why should their taxes go to pay for the welfare of those who didn't want them to be born?

Guy, London, UK

Corinne has exposed the secret thoughts of many women, I am a mother & grandmother, I love my children & grandchildren, but would I do it all over again,? I don't think so. Given the hardship, sucking away of your life, never being able to afford to do anything you would really like to, and given the ridiculous overpopulation in the world today, I agree with everything she says. Judy, Melbourne, Australia.

Judy Legh, Melbourne, Australia

Overpopulation creates pollution (think about that , Mr A. Gore, having 4 (!) children). My wife and I are also childfree and loving every minute of it! Let's abolish child benefit and the world will be a nicer and cleaner place.

john, ghent, Belgium

Corinne is fantastic!
Having children is a form of environmental pollution.
We need less people consuming unconsciously the blood and life of this planet.

Andya , Coulson, UK

There is a vast difference between saying women shouldn't feel pressurized into having children - absolutely! - and slagging off your children across the national press (yes, Maier has, quite clearly and at length).

So labour hurt, did it? She had to wear maternity clothes when she was pregnant? She didn't get to lie in every morning? My God, she actually had to do housework when she got home from work? Aw, diddums.

This woman seriously needs to get over herself.

Kate, Midlands, UK

At Last!!!!

Those of us who are not a small minority anymore - happily choosing not to have children - ARE BEING HEARD!!!!!
It's about time......

Susan, brighton, IK

Mrs. Maier should consider to sell her children at the best offer. With the money she could have same more travel around the world.

Adriano, Dubai, UAE

Someone who has the courage to speak out and write what we have all known and been thinking for years. I have one daughter aged 25, whom i am very close to it stopped there. My daughter does not want children and sees them as a massive demand ,draining the life blood out of parents. She sees this a lot with her friends that have children. Everything corinne has wrote i am in agreement with. Well done.

Magenta, Ipswich, UK

Excellent! Yes, ditto! Aged 33, happily married for 11 years and hate the pressures, hints and friendly advice(!) I am constantly exposed to for producing offsprings. Being the woman in this equation, why do I have to sacrifice so much physically, mentally, economically, professionally, psychologically and socially to feel fulfilled? I am very happy as I am. I love my husband and we have a great relationship and would hate to bring a third person into this. Bravo Mme Maier! Je suis avec vous (sur ce, ja'i quitte mon bouleau il y a cinq annees pour avoir plus de temps pour moi-meme, je n'ai jamais regrette la decision. Oui, vive la paresse!)

Hilal Pekbeyaz, London, UK

Thanks, Hooray and Well Done to yet another author bringing to the forefront what we Childfree already knew - that's why we're Childfree!
But to those who do wish to breed, can I ask that you just leave us Childfree to get on quietly with our lives. We don't question you over your choices, so leave us be, please. We are no threat to your offspring, we have no desire to commune with them at all, so please just go about your business of child-rearing and let us who have no desire to replicate, live our lives in peace.
I would also recommend the book Childfree and Loving It! by Nicki DeFago published in 2005.

Liz, Swansea, UK

I agree that couples should consider not having children, as the world is overpopulated enough.

However, this author has two children and then writes a book on how having and raising chldren is a nightmare? I wonder what her children would say about that, and I wouldn't be surprised if they alienated themselves from her when they turn old enough. If that was my mother, I wouldn't talk to her again. She's basically saying that both her children were a mistake.

James, Essex, England

Thanks for this book and the many others that are emerging. This is the start of something big - i feel like a gay coming out or something, its just great to know there are so many other like me. 40, blissfully happy and in love with my hubby with a fab quality of life for two.
Please say childfree not childless and call us families of 2.
Hoorah

Lisa, Bristol , uk

I'm glad that more and more people are coming out on the childfree lifestyle. I'm 37, happily married, and chose long ago never to have children. Selfish? Perhaps. But certainly no more selfish than people who choose to have children in an already overpopulated world full of children in need of adoption. I knew long ago that parenthood wasn't for me, and I wasn't about to let society tell me how to live my life.

I think it's ridiculous that people are rewarded for adding to the population through tax breaks, better works schedules, etc. But I'd rather take my lifestyle any day over theirs.

Thank goodness that there are more books and articles coming out about this viable lifestyle choice. With more media attention, perhaps people will think before they mindlessly procreate.

Carol, Cleveland, USA / Ohio

Hurrah for this author! I don't know when the world became the Cult of the Child but the insanity has to stop. To many of us children are not innocent, sweet and precious miraculous beings. They are hard work, time consuming, life changing creatures who alter our lives completely.

Those of us who are honest enough to say we don't want them are ostrasized and ridiculed as though we were comitting some sort of henious crime. But many who do reproduce do not really want to. They are just too afraid not to follow the life-script that tells them they must reproduce.

There would be fewer battered children in the world if those who had them only as a conformity to Society were honest about not wanting them.

No one should be pressured to bring life into this world. Life is too precious a commodity to be considered so lightly. And those who do reproduce willing should have some respect for those who choose not to.

Minervah Harrison, Portland/ Oregon, USA

Less truly is more. haha!

molly, akron, ohio, us

So this was the person who wrote a book in favour of slacking at work and then got the sack. Her employers were stupid. They should have promoted her. Now she has to make a living writing silly books just to provoke. What next? "How I dumped my boyfriend and now feel a whole lot better"? It's the kind of pap that French supermarkets love to stock in multiple copies (they rarely stock anything worth reading).

J. Fletcher, Canterbury, UK

Nowhere in the article does it say she "hates" her children, S. Please get your head out of the breederific box labeled "Mothers Love Being Mothers 24 Hours A Day Or Else They Hate Their Children."

MDC, Nashua, NH

All this time I thought I was the only one. Thankyou for an article on a real aspect of some womens lives. I agree with everything, can't wait to read the book.

sharon , Adelaide,

Well, if any young French non mothers need to put up a facade for a while they can borrow one of my kids! Cheap!

jenner, Los Angeles, CA,

So...wait a minute...she hates her own children? Sad.

S, london,

if a young girl in France ( French originally or even recently adopted ) looking for security by just having a child can benefit from free housing and a monthly allowance to raise him or her she can get it how can you change this conception...For years we have seen a rising number of so young single Mothers all around Major French Cities...

brd, London, UK

It's exactly like that here in the U.S., perhaps even worse. I have chosen not to have minors and hear about it all the time. Any past occurences where I said something to someone about the way their minors were behaving in public has gotten me threats. You must love them and worship them or else you're a monster and people treat as such. Even at my own home I could hear screams and shrieks from the young in the neighborhood and the only thing I could do about it was move. Neighbors who knew I didn't like it went out of their way to make sure I heard plenty of it. From setting up tents outside my bedroom window where their minors could scream and carry on so loudly even my TV set at volume 50 wouldn't drowned them out. It's been horrible living in a society where you have no rights at all unless you've multiplied!

Aimee, Toledo, OH, USA