but the thing is those kids are not there with you all the time, you get to leave. xmas isnt how it was in our day, todays xmas is more and more about money and what can i get than any other reason.

i have spent months with a family of breeders (not my choice), and i realised that after 6 weeks with them, that kids, are not a good thing, 2 weeks in i was going to commit murder on those kids…

for every happy child image theres hundreds of screaming kids. theres many sites out there that show that xmas is in todays world the selfish kids festival.

We did a CF Christmas last year in Sydney and honestly, it didn’t feel like Christmas. Part of it was the 90 degree temperatures, but the other part for me is Christmas is just another day of the year if it is not filled with family. Fortunately or unfortunately, that family includes children but I am more then willing to put up with a few rug rats to see my parents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends during the holidays. And if anything, Christmas evening with a bunch of oversugared and stimulated rugrats is an excellent validation of my decision.

It’s very possible to have a cf Christmas or holiday…Just book it and do it! Like me you can do your Christmas visiting earlier in December… that way, if it bothers you, no one can complain that you’ve not seen them. And once you’ve had a childfree christmas you’ll never look back

UKShell: was it my imagination or did I read that the younger Spears is now pregnant? And whose bare protuding belly was last on the cover of Vogue or some other celeb magazine? The worship of pregnancy is alive and well.

Hillari - I agree that many have bypassed the sense of what the season’s supposed to be about. Some kids only see it as a time when the “get things” I see parents going nuts about getting the latest cool thing for their kids and the mind boggles. The emphasis on not only giving gifts, but giving the right gifts so as not to offend must be wearing - imagine if someone gets the wrong thing!! Happily I can just enjoy the season - very peacefully and quietly.
Merry Christmas!

Has anyone managed to do this yet, have a CF holiday? I could see doing a gift exchange prior to the holiday, like Brit Girl did, and then getting out of town so we don’t have to explain why we don’t want to participate in the boring traditions.

There’s always next year! And I think it’s romantic to just spend the holiday with your spouse, without all the bs small talk and force family obligatory events.

As for the comment about Christmas being all about children, my mother always tells me that Christmas is never the same without little kids. I’m informed that it’s fun to excite them about Santa and the fairies making sure they behave because little ones believe.

My response is that whilst it all sounds cute, in an hour after unwrapping the gifts, they’ll be screaming little nightmares again and it’ll all be like every other day with them. At least my parents know they won’t be getting kids from me and accept it 100%

A Merry Childfree Christmas and New Year to everyone!

RMS: I’m with you on the Christmas music. I’m fortunate that my parents got me satellite radio for my birthday this year. They’ve put all the Christmas music on separate stations so I don’t have to listen to any of it hijacking my regular stations. It’s seriously the way to go. I still have to hear some of it at the grocery store, but it’s not nearly as loud like places at the mall and I can tune it out.

As a CF single with no family nearby, I enjoy a very quiet Xmas. I’m having my turkey early this weekend and plan to see I Am Legend on Xmas day. I quite enjoy such quiet times. I can get a lot done at home and it gives me the opportunity for reflection on this past year and the one coming up.

I wish every one a happy, healthy and wonderful holiday season, however they choose to enjoy it! Whichever way you choose is the best one for you! That’s the real lesson of being childfree and it’s the best gift ever!

DANNII NOT SO CLUCKY IN LOVE: Dannii Minogue claims she is not interested in ever having children - unlike her big sister Kylie. The X Factor judge and singer, 36, said; “I’ve never really had the desire for kids. I’ve definitely loved being an aunty to my nephew and I’ve loved being a godmother. But I’m not clucky”

I’m presuming it’s true. Though you never know what to believe when reading the papers!

I start making / buying Christmas presents early, so it hasn’t been stressful. Paul and I are staying in Christchurch this year, so we’ve already sent away my family’s presents.

There are no little children in my family, so I always enjoy Christmas back in Auckland. Unfortunately staying here this year means we have to spend Christmas afternoon with Paul’s brother’s two children (both under 5), and their 3yo cousin on their mother’s side.

On a normal day I enjoy seeing them for a couple of hours or so, but I can tell that Christmas is going to be a very child-focused event. I’m already looking forward to heading home again!

Apart from the obligatory family lunch, I plan to enjoy the day at home with Paul, and maybe go to the movies in the evening.

I hope you all have a fun and safe Christmas/New Years!

I’ve spent Christmas with my boyfriend’s family for the last 3 years or so. His sister is married and this year her and her husband have started trying to conceive - even going the IVF route. I suspect that once that is successful Christmas will start being about her kid - because of course, my boyfriend doesn’t count since he’s not even so much as married and has already told his parents he doesn’t ever plan on having kids. It’s sort of like that now.

This year, another CF christmas. Yay! I have to admit, I dread the day she announces she’s pregnant. Already there have been questions by people outside the family about me and him sprogging. He’s made it quite clear he doesn’t want children and I’ve let on that I dislike them myself.

This year will be quiet so I am grateful for that.

Happy Holidays to everyone - however you celebrate this time of year.

I always spent my holidays shuttling between my Grandparents, one set on Christmas eve and the other on Christmas day, have continued that tradition on my own, and probably will even after I’m married. I love the seeing my relatives, the food and drink, and I really love taking the beautiful drive along the Mississippi between their homes on Christmas day. Fortunately, both sides of my family have a low breeding rate, and there will be no people under the age of 20 at either gathering.

When I visit relatives on Christmas, the kid count is very low. Some of my cousins have children who are either teens or young adults; they have their own friends to hang around and events to attend. The emphasis is usually not on the kids, but on the adults gathering and having a good time.

I’ve never really minded children at the table for Xmas, mostly because my family was never materialistic (it’s all about the food and drinks!) and we just have a big dinner on the eve and do small gift exchanges. Not a single sibling has children, and so we just have the two daughters of our close cousin, and they’re now young adults and even more fun.

The best way to avoid kids, if you need to, is to head to the pub.

I hope everyone here has wonderful holidays, and that you spend them anyway you like. That’s what they’re for, me thinks.

After last year’s horrendous family holiday experience, we decided that we’d never spend another XMAS at home. Back in January I made reservations at one of our favorite resorts and we’ll be spending a week there beginning this weekend. It’s a gorgeous beach that should be pretty remote this time of year. We. Can’t. Wait.

Enjoy your time w/your husband and thank you, as always for such wonderful and inspiring CF blogs. I added a link to your blog on my MySpace page. You’re listed under the “Sites I Frequent” header. =)

We’ll be reveling in our child-free state and having a wonderful time celebrating Winter Solstice and the holiday season with friends. Yes, children will be included in our celebrations but the wonderful part is that they won’t be going home with us when we leave.

May all the blessings of the season abound in your home and in the homes of all your readers.

Love and Peace