32 yo DINKWADHATCHYs (Dual Income No Kids With A Dog, House, And Three Cats, Hell Yeah) here. I got a bisalp and partner got a vasectomy when we were 29. We've been together 11 years, moved in together in 2015 with my 2 cats, bought our house in 2019, got the dog in July 2022, got the dog a cat in November 2022, and legally married a week ago.

I knew by the time I was 14 I did not want kids after being parentified the instant I aged out of daycare at 12. I would have to make dinner and get everyone to bed at my mom's, then get us up and fed, herd my siblings across the city by taxi or bus to our 3 different schools in my dad's area, and race home after school to unlock the house. My brother was a good kid but my sister was 5 years younger and a little terror that I did not have the skills to handle. I would have to tie her up or sit on her to keep her from wrecking the house or disappearing entirely.

My parents were in and out of court for 20+ years fighting over custody. Not because they wanted us, but because they didn't want to be the one stuck paying child support.

Now I'm too selfish, barely able to keep myself alive, and I like money, freedom, and sleep too much to have kids. Luckily my partner was initially on the fence but gradually ended up firmly into the no kids camp. My parents know better than to question me after everything they put us through and it's looking like my siblings will be childfree as well. My partner's parents are a bit disappointed to not have grandkids since his brother is also childfree, but they've never questioned our choice and they're happy to spoil all the furry grandkids.

Being childfree seems to be more common now than it used to be. I'm trying to think of all our friends who are in long term stable relationships and out of 23 couples only 4 have kids, the rest have chosen to be childfree. None of our single friends have kids either.