Parents Who Regret Having Kids Are Sharing Their Biggest “I Wish I Knew” Moments, And Oh My God

5.

“Everyone says it’s different when it’s your own kid. Everyone says the first time you hold your baby, you have an instant bond. Everyone says it’s the most amazing and important thing a woman will ever do. None of that was true for me. I always knew from a young age that I didn’t want children. My family is religious and strict, and pressured me into a marriage at 19. He was okay with us not having kids. Our families were not. I ended up pregnant even though I was taking birth control. I didn’t notice the missed periods because the type of birth control I took lets you skip periods. By the time I knew I was pregnant, I was five months along, which is too late for an abortion. So I had the baby. When I was in the hospital, my family told me that they switched out my birth control with fake pills. Needless to say, my husband and I were livid!”

“I had horrific postpartum depression. My husband took up drinking heavily to deal with the stress. And one day, he just never came home. I haven’t heard from him since. I made the decision to put my child up for adoption at four months. My daughter and her family contacted me about seven years ago. We talk regularly, and I go to visit her for her birthday. She knows the whole story, even though at 13 years old, she likely doesn’t really understand. If you know you don’t want children, and have never wanted children, don’t listen to people who tell you that you’re wrong and will change your mind. I even tried to get my tubes tied, but all the doctors in my area won’t do it until I am older than 40, or if my husband signs off on it. We really need to stop acting like women don’t understand their own bodies and wants.” 

—TrustYourGutFeelings