Is being childfree for now as commendable as being childfree by choice?

You are up against the ignorant. Why do you care what they think? Clearly people are always going to think they know better than you. It is human nature to label people that think differently wrong. Just ignore them and go about your life.

Too many childfree people consider it a political issue. Well it is not a political issue, it is a lifestyle and nobody else's business. The opinions of the child-centric majority are just that: opinions, and not worth a second thought until they get in your face about it. When they do, then you fight back. I have taken this up with HR more than once, in my workplace.

Edit: Being childfree for now, often results in being childfree for life. You can change you mind if you like, but I doubt you will.

Childfree is generally accepted as meaning that you never want kids and will not have them (meaning if you got pregnant you'd have an abortion or possibly adopt out). If you're "on the fence" then you're considered childless. It doesn't matter whether or not you are trying, the indecision is what makes the difference. I've been childfree since my teens, in that I never wanted them and never had any intention of changing my mind, and I've been involved with the online CF "community" for over 10 years. Why does it matter what you're called? I have every respect for "fence-sitters," but they are not childfree.

ETA: A parent of seven has no clue what childfree means.

Sounds like a bunch of convuloted PC crap to me. If you want children at some point who cares what someone else thinks? If you decide not to have children because you don't want to be a parent or have that responsibility, cool, it is entirely your choice. The only difference between being childless and being child-free is the negative context which is being placed on the wording. They mean exactly the same thing.

I have seven children and take in unwanted children, that was my life choice and I am very happy with it. My oldest daughter doesn't want children, she has a full life and a wonderful partner who feels the same way. That is their choice and they are happy with it.

So whatever wording is used, the end result is, are you happy with your choice? If you are tell the rest of the symantic playing folks to piss off.

There's no such thing as "childfree for now." Childfree is an absolute: don't want them, not going to have them, aren't interested in them. Perhaps you're a fence-sitter (you haven't ruled out having kids) or you're waiting until you are more stable and have the resources to properly care for a kid (a wise move!), but "childfree for now" doesn't compute.

And "childfree by choice" is actually a redundancy. The word "childfree" implies the choice, because if a person is "childfree, not by choice" they are generally child*less*--that is, they want them but cannot have them. But either way, why are you looking for validation from people who don't share the views you've stated above: "...people that think about having kids and choose to wait til they are more secure financially or whatever," a direct quote from your post.

People that think about having kids aren't childfree. Those of us who are, applaud your restraint for waiting until you have the resources to properly care for them because that increases the chances that you might actually be a parent and not just a breeder. But until you've decided you're absolutely not having kids, you're not childfree, and "childfree for now" is insulting to the people who have made the decision because it implies that the decision to be CF, which generally comes with a lot of thought, is just a silly, juvenile whim that people grow out of when they become "mature" and "responsible" adults.

Agreed.

I am also child free by choice. My husband and I have decided that children are not for us (however, I am a stepmother to his children from a previous marriage). I get the question all the time of when are we going to have kids and start a family. Well to me, him and I are already a family, and I just don't understand people's need to see a child to call it a family.

As much as you people with children think that you don't "look down" on child free people....you do.

I think the point is - why do you care - you're not child-free anyway - you're just a couple. How ridiculous to even ponder it. I don't give a crap for people's opinions on my lifestyle - you should do the same. I have kids - but if I didn't that would be my business and I certainly wouldn't think of myself as "childfree" I would think of me as "me" or "us".

I definitely agree.

I'm childfree by a permanant choice. I may be young (19) but I am anti-child.

People always ask me "Who's going to take care of you when you're older". These people are so judgemental and arrogant. They (parents/wannabes) need to understand that kids aren't for everybody.

Being child free by choice for life is the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard of. why in the world would one not want children? sounds like you're associating yourself with some real idiots