How are you coping being childless and single over 45?

[Anonymous]

Let's say you've always wanted to get married and start a family. But that didn't happen while it happened for everyone else. Now you are 45+ years old... how are you coping?

[jennifer_bloom]

If I wanted children and marriage in my 20s, I would have gotten children and marriage in my 20s. I did not want marriage or children in my 20s, and that is the only reason I do not have children and marriage right now. My life is not a terrible accident, it is what I chose because it was what I believed I was able to handle. I had a genetic disorder that led to an extremely low pain threshold and I did not think I could handle child birth so I avoided marriage.

[Anonymous]

I've always been single so i have no point of reference otherwise. As you get older lives get more and more complicated half the people you know WILL get married and some will have kids. Many others will happen into relationships. Jobs and careers take precedence and kids and soccer games will fill up schedules. As a result your AVAILABLE friends will dwindle.

I'm ok with it. That doesn't mean it doesn't wear on me at times. My biggest problem is while my peers were busy spending money chasing relationships and having kids i was stacking paper and investing. Neither one of us did it "wrong" we just made our choices. But the end result is many of them are up to their eyeballs in debt and working everyday to pay off those debts and fund that lifestyle. Conversely i'm debt free and retired early. This causes friction as i have a lot of free time while they have very little.

But back to your question. I'd say 40 is a turning point for a guy. For a woman it's likely earlier. You realize the window for having a family is all but closed. Do i regret it? No not really. For one i have a genetic predisposition offspring would likely inherit that i wouldn't wish on anyone. Secondly, i had my opportunity. I simply did not pursue it. If i felt like i never had my opportunity it might bother me. But that's not the case. I made my choice. And you cannot walk two paths in life. Their are married people who had kids that will do the same. They'll contemplate "what if" (they had stayed single instead).

[ThisSiteSux]

I'm not. I have 6 kids and a wife of 23 years I turn 45 next month

[canamlusciouslad73]

LOVING IT !!!

[DirtyOldMan777]

i'm neither

[MasterKS]

enjoy singlehood.