‘I don’t want kids – don’t ask me to look after yours as they’re not my problem’

A woman who doesn’t want children has told parents to stop asking her to babysit – claiming other people’s kids are not her responsibility.

Columnist Jana Hocking is child-free by choice, but she claims her parents and friends often expect something of her that she doesn’t think is ok.

In a nutshell, she thinks people should look after their own kids.

READ MORE: ‘I’m a mum but I let my children swear – there are worse things they can do’

Writing for her column in news.com.au, Jana said: “Look, there’s no polite way to put this: Dear people with kids, look after your own damn children!

“There, I said it. This fury has been quietly raging in me for a couple of years now.”

The writer said it all began when a few of her girlfriends started “coupling off”.

She accepts it’s normal for people to find their special person – and sometimes there’ll be periods when she doesn’t see her friends as a result.

It’s not something the moans about, because she said it’s something everyone goes through.

Jana said falling in love is “exciting, and lusty and totally worth dumping your friends for a few months of lovey dovey ridiculousness”.

However – she claims there’s a shift when people start to have children – as singletons become demoted from friend to “servants” for their friends and their children.

She said, while she understands the concept of “it takes a village to raise a child”, she thinks it’s important for people to remember that single friends aren’t free babysitters.

Jana said it’s something she’s noticed quite often with her family and friends who have children.

She said there have been times when she’s arrived at dinner parties, looking forward to a good catch-up, and she’s been greeted with the line: “Oh look kids, Jana’s come to play!”

Then, before she knows it, she’s pushed into a room and is stuck playing games with children while the parents are off mingling and enjoying a few drinks.

“Can I object? Nope, because then I’m a party pooper,” she added.

“But do I want to guess what little Johnny has in his mouth for the millionth time… nope. That is literal torture to me.

“Yes, I am aware that makes me selfish, but I’ve made the life choice not to have them, so I would prefer not to be tricked into it, thank you very much.”

But, despite the woes, Jana said she also has a wonderful friend who knows her well enough to realise that their friendship comprises of a “no-kids boundary”.

When they meet up, she ensures her husband looks after the little ones while they head out to enjoy a lovely, quiet lunch.

She said this ensures both of them enjoy their time together – and have a good natter in peace.

Jana also said this also allows her pal to have some proper adult time, and she can’t recommend the idea enough to others.

Concluding the column, she added: “So, while I’m super chuffed for all you clucky folk who have taken the very adult step of having children, I would ask that you remember that we childless folk prefer to spend our weekends in the company of adults, and less flying balls, snot and tantrums … well, only my own.”

READ NEXT: