Needless to say, pregnancies can be draining both mentally and physically. So, it only makes sense that before bringing children into this world, women might want to think things through.
London-based TikToker ‘LifeofJenny’ has seemingly thought long and hard about what she would need to support her through a pregnancy and some time after. In a video that went viral, the child-free woman discussed her conditions of what she would require from her partner if they decided to get pregnant, splitting the internet into camps about it.
Having children is a decision that requires careful consideration
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
This TikToker went viral after she shared the conditions she would require in order to become pregnant
"This is gonna ruffle a few feathers, but this is my preference."
Image credits: _lifeofjenny_
Prenup before pregnancy
"So we need to be married, we're not doing baby mamas here. And I would have my own clauses in there that would cover cheating, stuff like that."
£250,000 allowance annually, per baby
"Don't come at me, this will basically cover my weekly therapy sessions I'm going to need before and post giving birth; a personal trainer to get me fit and healthy, to get my confidence back; grocery shopping, and just things that I would need to get for the kids here and there. If I just have an annual or monthly allowance equivalent to that, I'm able to live comfortably. Not just for myself, but for my child as well.
I feel like as a woman, I would just be sacrificing a lot. So this list, I don't think it's asking for too much"
Image credits: _lifeofjenny_
I will not be working
"I will just not have the capacity."
A housekeeper
"Would definitely have a housekeeper who could do laundry, cooking, cleaning, all of that for six months. I'm not here to suffer."
Image credits: _lifeofjenny_
A weekly cleaner
"It will be replaced by a weekly cleaner just to get me back into the hang of things like cooking, doing laundry, things like that, because I do actually enjoy that. But who's going to be having that energy to be doing all of that when you've just given birth?"
A mommy makeover
"Next one, I would also have a mommy makeover, because my body is going to be destroyed internally and externally. I think this is a given."
Image credits: _lifeofjenny_
A night nurse/a doula
"Also a night nurse, a doula. I love my sleep, so a night nurse would definitely be mandatory so that I can get my beauty sleep to be able to have the energy in the morning, to be able to take over."
Push present
"Either an apartment in my name, a car or business, something that is going to secure mine and our child's or children's future should anything happen."
Image credits: _lifeofjenny_
I'm always looking to add more onto this list because I'm very adamant I want to be child-free. But for the right man, I wouldn't mind putting myself through all of that for the above."
Jenny’s video was viewed more than 620k times on TikTok
Image credits: Andre Furtado / Pexels (not the actual photo)
While some people agree to have children under certain conditions, some decide to remain child-free altogether
Some people want children more than others, but in any case, such a desire is not all that it takes. In addition to all the joys of parenthood, kids also bring significant change in regards to one's schedule, financial responsibilities, and other day-to-day matters, all of which should be considered before bringing new life into this world.
That’s why some people decide it’s not for them and choose to be child-free or only have kids under certain conditions, when they are sure they can handle all that worries them. According to recent statistics, nearly 22% of people, in the US at least, choose to be child-free. The TikToker pointed out that she also had her mind set on not having children, unless she found the right man who wanted them and was willing to agree to her conditions.
Even though they mainly related to the pregnancy period, some of the items on Jenny’s list also ensured she would have help once the baby was born. Such requirements might not be surprising considering that, according to Pew Research Center, mothers typically take more responsibility when it comes to raising children. A survey revealed that over 50% of people with children agree that moms play a larger role when it comes to managing the kids’ schedules and activities or taking care of them when they’re sick.
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Quite a few parents seek a helping hand with raising their little ones
Jenny’s video seemed to have received varying opinions, but quite a few netizens agreed that they, too, would only have children under certain conditions. That might be because her points of concern are not unheard of; research suggests that pregnant women tend to be worried about financial concerns and parenting responsibilities, as well as how they would cope with the new baby, among other things.
Quite a few women agreed that they would also prefer to have a night nurse or a nanny helping them out with the little bundle of joy. Statistics reveal that roughly 12% of parents with children under three hire nannies; even more of them, around 26%, rely on friend, family, and neighbor (FNN) care.
Such care is reportedly the most popular form of non-parental care in the US; in Minnesota, for instance, roughly 40% of kids are under such care, while in California—around 55% of those five and younger are. Based on the data from California, roughly one fourth of both—parents relying on FFN care and on babysitters—reportedly consider their current arrangement equal to their ideal one. For TikToker Jenny, the ideal arrangement meant meeting the criteria on the list, which seemed to have created quite a buzz in the comments section.
Some fellow TikTokers supported Jenny’s views
Others didn’t think such conditions were reasonable
