A 22-year-old American lady has sparked a viral debate after sharing an in depth listing of 417 reasons why she has decided not to have children. Rylee Evert, who started compiling her listing two years in the past, shared her ideas on TikTook, the place her video has since garnered over three million views. The causes vary from private preferences to monetary considerations and societal points, placing a chord with many viewers rethinking conventional expectations round parenthood.
A Comprehensive List Rooted in Personal Experience
Evert’s causes for opting out of parenthood are various and infrequently blunt. Among her causes are statements like “I hate children,” “They’re too expensive,” and “I could give birth to a stillborn, and the pregnancy is worth nothing.” Evert, who started babysitting at a younger age, defined that these experiences helped her perceive the realities of elevating youngsters. “People really don’t think about the reality of having children; they just think about how cute they are or how they’re expected to have children,” she advised information.com.au.
Evert’s listing additionally delves into extra profound anxieties, such because the worry of dropping private freedom, the environmental impression of overpopulation, and the societal stress to evolve to conventional roles. “I don’t want to lose my identity,” she famous, including, “Having children means giving up a significant portion of your life—your time, energy, and freedom.”
She additional criticised the societal expectation that girls ought to routinely need youngsters, saying, “People assume that because I’m a woman, I should want kids. But that’s not the case for everyone, and it’s okay to acknowledge that.”
Overwhelming Support—and Some Pushback
To Evert’s shock, her video has acquired overwhelming help, even from mother and father. Comments like “As a parent, I support this list” and “I have three kids, and I also don’t want kids” recommend that many individuals are questioning the pressures of parenthood. One viewer humorously remarked, “Why was the first one I saw ‘they throw mangoes at houses and break windows?'” referencing a particular incident from Evert’s listing.
However, not all responses have been constructive. Some critics accused Evert of being egocentric or short-sighted. “People say I’ll change my mind, or that I have no purpose without children, or that I’m selfish,” she shared. Evert counters these accusations by stating, “Honestly, I think it’s more selfish to have a child just so someone can take care of me when I’m older or so someone can carry on my ‘legacy.'”
The Staggering Cost of Raising a Child
One of Evert’s most compelling arguments revolves across the monetary burden of elevating a baby in as we speak’s financial system. “Clothes, strollers, car seats, healthcare, insurance, diapers, more food, toys, childcare, college—the list goes on, and it all adds up,” she mentioned.
SmartAsset says the common value of elevating a baby in a big U.S. metro space is $25,181 per yr, with important variations relying on location. For occasion, in Boston, the costliest metro space, the annual value of elevating a baby reaches almost $38,000, with $22,806 going in the direction of childcare alone. In distinction, New Orleans is the least costly metro space, the place elevating a baby prices lower than $18,000 per yr, primarily because of decrease childcare prices.
“People my age can barely afford rent; how do people expect us to be able to pay for kids?” Evert questioned. Her considerations resonate with many younger adults going through the tough realities of as we speak’s financial panorama.
Environmental and Societal Concerns
Evert’s listing additionally touches on broader points, such because the environmental impression of getting youngsters. “The world is overpopulated, and bringing more people into it only exacerbates environmental problems,” she famous. She expressed concern about her potential youngsters’s future, stating, “The world will be either on fire or underwater by the time they’d be able to enjoy it.”
In addition to environmental worries, Evert highlighted the societal challenges of elevating youngsters in an more and more hostile world. “With the state of the world—climate change, political instability, economic inequality—why would I want to bring a child into this mess?” she requested.
Physical Risks and Health Concerns
Beyond monetary and environmental considerations, Evert additionally mentioned the bodily dangers of being pregnant and childbirth. “People can literally die from giving birth or even just being pregnant,” she mentioned, including that the tightening abortion legal guidelines within the U.S. solely heighten her fears. “With abortion bans spreading across the country, I sure don’t want to risk it.”
She additionally talked about the long-term well being implications of being pregnant, resembling postpartum melancholy and the bodily toll on a lady’s physique. “There’s a lot that people don’t talk about when it comes to the health risks of pregnancy, and I’m not willing to put my body through that,” she remarked.
A Call for Informed Decision-Making
While Evert’s listing has sparked debate, her intention is to advertise knowledgeable decision-making slightly than dissuade others from having youngsters. “I’m not telling other people not to have kids; I’m more just trying to spread awareness about what pregnancy and raising a child entails,” she said.
Evert’s considerations concerning the monetary burden of elevating a baby are backed by knowledge from GoodAsset. The common value of elevating a baby in a big U.S. metro space is $25,181 per yr. In costlier areas like Boston, this determine can rise to just about $38,000 yearly, with childcare alone costing $22,806 yearly.
Evert additionally highlighted the bodily dangers of being pregnant, significantly in mild of tightening abortion legal guidelines within the U.S. This concern is shared by many, because the maternal mortality price within the U.S. was reported at 23.8 deaths per 100,000 stay births in 2020, in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Evert’s listing, now seen by thousands and thousands, underscores the complexities and challenges of parenthood. As monetary pressures and societal points develop, her resolution resonates with many younger adults as we speak. “It’s the 21st century; having a child does not define your life’s purpose. It’s your life; the choice is yours,” Evert concluded.
