In recent years, Americans have increasingly decided to forgo parenthood for a variety of reasons. But, do those decisions in your 20s and 30s still feel right as you age? It's surprisingly complicated.

Redditor u/Robin_to_the_meadow targeted a question directly at middle age denizens of AskReddit: "How does it feel?" More than 8,000 responses later, we've seen how it played out for a shocking number of individuals.

People in their 40s and 50s with no children, how does it feel?
byu/Robin_to_the_meadow inAskReddit

Whether or not to have kids is a very personal choice, so we're taking all of this with a grain of salt. Still, it's worth listening to the viewpoints of people with real life experience.

The 'children will make you happy' argument isn't always true

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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You can still have children in your life through friends and family

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
inAskReddit

The freedom to do whatever you want is glorious

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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Feeling like you no longer have the option can be frustrating to some

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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Being able to relate to friends with kids can be a challenge

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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Fully understanding your agency, and wielding it to build your life, is powerful

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
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It doesn't always feel good, but there are many other ways to find fulfillment

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byu/Robin_to_the_meadow from discussion
inAskReddit

Via u/Robin_to_the_meadow.

[Image: Juan Pablo Serrano ]