Parenting vs. Child-free: A Personal Journey Through My Lens

Hi, Dear Reader,

Jack here, ready to share a piece of my soul with you today.

There’s one sensitive topic I’d like to talk about: parenting vs child-free lifestyle.

I’m a father of one, and being a parent has opened my heart in ways I never imagined. But I’m not here to convince anyone to follow my path. Life is full of choices, and just because someone’s view differs from mine doesn’t make either of us right or wrong. Who am I to judge? I’m human, just like you, navigating life with my own choices and dreams.

The reason I feel compelled to share this today is that, as I mentioned in my last post, our world often seems flooded with stories of struggle. It’s rare to see someone speak of joy, especially the quiet, profound joy that parenting has brought me. So, today, I want to offer my own perspective—a glimpse of the other side of the coin.

For me, wanting children wasn’t a conscious wish; it felt like an instinct. But even that instinct couldn’t prepare me for how much having a child would transform my life and the very meaning of “life” itself.

First, I discovered a kind of love I’d never experienced before—so intense that it feels like my heart can barely contain it. It’s an overwhelming blend of bliss and something that teeters on the edge of madness. There is no other feeling that comes close to this.

Second, there’s a magic to seeing yourself reflected in another person. It seems like I’ve traveled back in time and met a younger, better version of myself. Each time I speak with my child, it’s like I’m talking to a piece of my soul. Every hug is an embrace of both the past and the future, wrapped up in the present. When she laughs, I laugh; when she feels joy, I feel it as if it’s my own. It’s strange to say, but I’m living my childhood again, through a different lens.

And then, there’s the overwhelming beauty of creating life—a unique, living person. Imagine that you love your partner, and together, you create a being who’s a blend of both of you, yet entirely their own. They have their own personality, their own spirit, and a love for you that’s pure and profound.

Parenting feels as if Nature gifted us each a unique palette, colors only we possess, and with them, we create a person breathing life into them with strokes of our own soul. And no matter what you paint, it becomes your masterpiece.

Finally, as I’ve mentioned before, life is fleeting—we’re born, we live, and eventually, we go. But I believe a part of us lives on through our children. They carry our colors forward, blending them with their own, passing pieces of us down through generations.

Of course, I won’t pretend it’s all easy. Many people share stories of how challenging parenting is—how it demands time, finances, and endless patience. And they’re not wrong.

Some even say choosing to be child-free is selfish, but if I’m honest, parenting has its own kind of selfishness. I don’t devote my heart and energy solely for my child’s sake—I do it for the indescribable fulfillment it brings me. Every cost is repaid a hundred times over by the love and joy that come in return.

“Daddy, I love you.” Those words are like music to my ears, making my heart swell and my spirit glow.

Again, this is just my perspective on parenting. It’s not everyone’s path, and that’s okay. Whether you choose to be a parent or live child-free, it’s your life and your choice. And as long as you’re happy, I’m happy for you.

With all my dreams, thoughts, and a bit of magic, Jack

P.S. Eva, there aren’t enough words to express how much I love you.