Jasmine Parasram and her husband Rohan have embarked on a journey that led them to a firm decision of remaining childless. Their story offers unique insights into the factors influencing this choice and the impact it has on their lives.

Unraveling the Reasons Behind a Child-Free Life

Initial Doubts and First Date Discussions

Twelve years ago, at the age of 23, Jasmine and Rohan had their first date. It was a bold topic as they discussed whether they wanted kids. Jasmine, being neurodivergent and diagnosed with ADHD two years ago, had a strong curiosity to explore. This wasn't their first meeting; they had reconnected at a mutual friend's birthday. On that date, they were both 50/50 about having children. Over the years, their stance shifted, and now they are 100% certain they want to remain a childless couple forever.

Seeing their friends have kids and the changes it brought about in their lives played a significant role. Interactions with friends who had children left them feeling drained. If kids were noisy or messy, they wanted to distance themselves from that aspect.

Family Pressure and Personal Choices

Jasmine's husband's mom had a strong desire for them to have kids. She was intuitive and saw twins in Jasmine's life. However, Jasmine had to be honest and convey that having children was not what she wanted.

Having siblings takes some of the pressure off them regarding having grandchildren. Jasmine runs her own business as a pricing coach for freelancers, and she has different drives and motivations in her career, relationship, and life.

Benefits and Changes in Friendships

Not having kids has its benefits. On weekends, they can enjoy leisurely activities like lying in, going to brunch, or having a night out without worrying about anyone else. After being married for two and a half years and reaching the age of 35, their certainty in remaining childless has grown stronger.

Some friendships have changed. They are close friends with couples who have had babies in the last year, and Jasmine worries about how their friendship will be affected. Navigating these changes is challenging, as the friend they once knew may not be the same after having a child. But they also find joy in living vicariously through their friends and having financial freedom to pursue their own hobbies and dreams.

They are genuinely thrilled for their friends who have chosen to have kids, knowing that this path is not for them. They have found happiness in other aspects of life.