Latest news with #childfree
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Andy Lee makes smug comment about not having kids with his partner of ten years Rebecca Harding
Andy Lee has risked rustling up some internet trolls with his latest comment about his child-free lifestyle with his partner of 10 years, Rebecca Harding. The Australian comedian and his fiancée recently celebrated the fourth birthday of their only child, a beloved Welsh Terrier named Henri. On Monday, the 43-year-old luxuriated in a midday sleep in to mark the King's Birthday public holiday. 'It's 11.48am,' he captioned a photo taken of his dog curled up at his feet in bed, with the curtains in his Melbourne apartment still drawn. Andy shared the post to his Stories with the caption: 'Tell me you don't have kids without telling me you don't have kids.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The funnyman, 43, and Rebecca, 35, returned to Melbourne on Saturday from a quick jaunt to New York City to pay a visit to Andy's recently opened Aussie-themed Manhattan pub, Old Mates. With Andy at the helm of the venture, it is backed by an owner's group that includes the likes of Hamish Blake, tennis star Ash Barty, surfing legend Mick Fanning, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins and Hollywood A-lister Hugh Jackman. The comic did not let jet lag get to him either, getting back on the tools at his $8million renovation of an 1870s-era home built on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River by Saturday afternoon. Andy freely admits that the ambitious project has taken precedence over planning their upcoming wedding. 'Most of our planning times and decision time we spend on the house,' Andy said with a laugh when he appeared on TMZ's Big Down Unda podcast in March. Asked by host Charlie Cotton for details about the wedding, Andy said he was 'lo-fi' while Bec is very 'hi fi'. 'When people come round to our house I don't feel the need for napkins for instance,' he said. 'But because Bec is very hi-fi, I'm lucky because I get the benefit of is nicely laid out and its the right cutlery... 'And I'm worried that [the wedding] is going to be that X a 1000.' Andy said the couple had no plans to a family right now — but teased a potential to change that. 'If Bec wants to [have a baby] I'm open to all that kind of stuff,' he said. It's quite the turnaround from comments the comic made in an interview with Kate Langbroek for the Mammamia Unfiltered podcast last year. 'I've gone through times where I thought I would, and then I've definitely gone through patches of feeling, "I don't think I want this at all. We'll see",' Andy confessed. 'One thing I do love about not currently having kids is how available I am to my family. My mum, my dad and I were down at the beach house the other day and they said, "When are you going to start a family?" 'And I said, "You realise you wouldn't be here in this beach house if I had my own family and kids." I think I spend so much time with them because of [being child-free].' 'I love being available to people. It's something that I love with friends - being a reliable source to call upon,' he continued. 'I do definitely worry that having my own family means that I give that up... People think that's selfish. But it's not, I get a lot of self-worth [out of it].' Parenthood, he said, doesn't mean a person can't show up as a good mate, but 'it's all-consuming'. 'Naturally, people turn inward when they have their own kids,' he said. Ultimately, Andy said, marriage isn't 'super important' for the couple. He said he thinks Rebecca will be 'an amazing mum,' but the often 'unfair pressure' on child-free couples to announce their future plans isn't helpful. 'There's no rub between Bec and I on that front. Because she also doesn't want [kids] right now. This is the misconception,' he added.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
Against traditional norms, more Filipinas opt out of motherhood
MANILA: When Jarrah Brillantes first realized she did not want children, the decision stemmed from her community development work — a mission she was unwilling to set aside. Over the years that choice only strengthened, shaped by the lifestyle she chose for herself. A policy researcher from Iloilo City, Brillantes has been working with children in conflict zones, where she has seen how the environment affects a child's development. Raising her own while continuing work, she felt, would not support their full potential. 'It would be unfair,' Brillantes, 38, told Arab News. 'The change of residence. The change of career track. Studying again (in) my thirties. These would be challenging and probably selfish if I have a child.' While Brillantes sometimes engages in babysitting for her family members, she never regrets her choice to be childfree. 'Having a typical Filipino family, children are raised as a tribe. Whenever I have to play the part of the temporary guardian to my niece and nephews, I see that is not the role I want to undertake,' she said. 'While some are (in) the parenting phase of their adult life, there are other things that we undertake too. We put in the work on our career, on our advocacies, our big goals. The most basic and affirming is, that my days go according to my needs and wants.' Brillantes is one of the growing numbers of Filipino women who choose to have no children, marking a significant shift in a nation where motherhood is deeply tied to a woman's identity. A study published earlier this year by Dr. Anthony Luis B. Chua from the Cebu Institute of Medicine and two researchers from Michigan State University shows the prevalence of childfree women in the Philippines has increased dramatically over the past few years. Childfree women are defined as those who 'do not have children and do not want to have them in the future.' The research, 'Trends in the Prevalence of Childfree Women in the Philippines, 1993-2022,' indicates that the number of Filipinas making such a choice has jumped from nearly 4.2 percent in 2013 to 11.1 percent in 2022. While the researchers linked the sharp rise with the passage of the 2012 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, and provided universal access to sexual education and contraception, women say it is in the first place a matter of personal choice. 'I do believe kids need both a father and a mother. When I decided not to marry, I knew I also preferred to remain childfree,' said Jeamma Claire Sabate, a 56-year-old government employee from Cainta, Rizal. 'In the 21st century, people recognize that women have the right to make choices that align with their preferences.' In the deeply Catholic Philippines, the Constitution prohibits abortion and recognizes 'the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.' Dr. Diana Veloso, associate professor at the Department of Sociology and Behavioral Sciences of De La Salle University, argues that this dominant cultural linking of womanhood to motherhood is a result of the colonial past that brought patriarchy to the Philippines. 'Precolonial culture was more egalitarian and gender inclusive. The increasing choice in favor of being childfree is a welcome change in that it is reversing the impact of such patriarchal gender norms that were brought about by colonialism. This is also a way of reclaiming our culture's more inclusive gender norms in precolonial times,' she said. 'This also illustrates that parenthood is more intentional, rather than something that simply happens due to conformity to traditional gender norms.' The visible social change does not mean, however, that women no longer face pressure to get married and have children. 'That is still the case in Philippine society. However, women have more options and people recognize that there are multiple avenues to fulfillment in this day and age — and that having children is not meant for everyone,' Veloso told Arab News. Farah Decano, a law school dean from Pangasinan province, remembers experiencing pressure on motherhood from those around her. 'But I didn't mind. I am cool about it,' she said, adding she prefers channeling her nurturing instincts elsewhere — looking after her nephews, nieces, and aging mother. 'It is fun because I can spoil them without having to worry about shaping their behavior,' she said. 'And I get to enjoy a limited authority similar to a mother, too. I am already living the life. I cannot ask for more.'
Forbes
4 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Are Pets Replacing Children In Today's Families? A Psychologist Explains
As birth rates drop, more and more people are choosing pet parenting over child rearing. Here's why ... More it feels just as rewarding to them. Birth and fertility rates are falling in nearly every country. In the 1950s, women had an average of 4.9 children in their lifetime. But since 2023, statistics indicate that this number has dropped, by more than half, to a mere 2.3. For many, traditional parenthood is no longer a mandatory milestone. It's now a choice that is often deferred or declined altogether. Meanwhile, as more people move away from having children, many are turning instead to pet ownership to fill that space. Dogs, cats and other companion animals are increasingly being regarded as central members of the household. They are loved, cared for and deeply integrated into familial routines; they are no longer considered as 'just pets.' A May 2025 study published in European Psychologist sought to examine this novel norm, as well as what makes it so compelling to today's child-free couples. Led by researchers Laura Gillet and Enikő Kubinyi, the study uncovered various reasons why many couples find raising pets — particularly dogs — just as meaningful as raising children. Here's a breakdown of their three key findings. Gillet and Kubinyi suggest that the emotional bond between a human and their dog may mirror the attachment between a parent and child in many ways — beyond the extent of mere resemblance. Perhaps the most influential tool for studying attachment is Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). It involves placing an infant in a room with their primary caregiver, and then bringing a stranger into the room. The caregiver then leaves, only to return after around 10–15 minutes. The way the child responds in this brief period of time (by crying, clinging, exploring or calming down quickly) offers observers invaluable insights into the security of the child's attachment style. Remarkably, dogs have shown similar patterns when placed in an adapted version of the SSP. Gillet and Kubinyi highlight that dogs, too, tend to become more playful, explorative and relaxed in the presence of their owners. They also tend to grow more anxious or withdrawn when separated from them. As the authors note, dogs often perceive their humans as a 'safe haven' in the same way children do — a term lifted straight from attachment theory to describe the emotional security provided by a trusted figure. Beyond comforting the dog, this kind of bonding also triggers the caregiving system embedded intrinsically within humans. For many, their attachment to their pet (and feeling as though that attachment is reciprocal) can be incredibly rewarding. In many ways, the sense of being needed, trusted and appreciated scratches the same psychological itch as traditional parent–child relationships. The 2025 study also notes that attachment doesn't operate in a vacuum. Every strong bond, be it between a parent and child or a person and their dog, activates an underlying caregiving system. That system, Gillet and Kubinyi argue, is shaped by the consistent behavioral patterns we know as 'parenting styles.' In fact, their literature review suggests that many dog owners naturally fall into parenting patterns that largely mirror those of actual parents: permissive, authoritarian or authoritative. They develop routines. They establish boundaries. They adapt their responses to fit the temperament of their dog. They even learn to interpret their dogs' whining, barking or subtle shifts in behavior. In other words, they come to know their pet in much the same way a parent comes to know their baby. At the same time, pet parenting is likely also perceived as lower-stakes. As psychological researcher Małgorzata Szcześniak explained to me in a recent interview, 'We live in a world where an increase in the standard of living does not mean a linear increase in its perceived quality.' As such, she argues, 'These factors may translate into more people postponing parenthood.' In her research on the role of future anxiety in delayed parenthood, Szcześniak points to growing economic uncertainty, political instability, climate change and global conflict as key drivers of anxiety in potential parents. Many people today feel unsure whether simply being a good parent is enough to protect a child from the challenges that lie ahead. Pets, in contrast, can be sheltered far more easily from those threats. They don't need to go out and navigate the world alone. They don't need college funds, social media accounts or protection from the existential weight of adulthood. For many couples, this reduced risk — coupled with the many emotional rewards of caregiving — makes pet parenting a valid way to fulfill our deep, evolutionary drives without the immense responsibility of raising a child in an increasingly uncertain world. Beyond emotional bonding and caregiving behavior, Gillet and Kubinyi highlight the fact that dogs are remarkably intelligent — in ways that are strikingly similar to young children. Their review suggests that adult dogs possess cognitive abilities comparable to those of a 2- to 2.5-year-old child. Dogs consistently pass visible displacement tasks (where they watch an object being hidden and can successfully retrieve it). They demonstrate a firm grasp of object permanence. They can distinguish between similar shapes, colors and sizes. They're even capable of forming complex multi-sensory representations of both social beings and inanimate objects. These are some of the very same early cognitive milestones that human children reach within the first few months of life. Beyond the fact that dogs possess these cognitive abilities, they actually use them to interact with us on a daily basis. Dogs aren't smart in an abstract sense; they're emotionally intelligent, socially attuned and remarkably responsive to human behavior. Gillet and Kubinyi note that dogs often mirror our moods, respond to our tone of voice, maintain eye contact and even imitate our modelled behaviors. Many dogs can even understand up to dozens of spoken words and gestures. Their ability to integrate into human social environments so seamlessly and exceptionally well is part of what makes them such beloved companions. Watching a dog develop and become more attuned to your presence — much like children do — can be an invaluable source of pride and joy. But, in all likelihood, dogs' emotional resonance may be what makes pet parenting feel most meaningful of all. They're fiercely loyal. They're uncommonly devoted. And, most sacredly, they love us unconditionally. Do you find pet parenting a fulfilling part of your daily life? Take this science-backed test, and find out how connected you are to your (furry) little one: Pet Owner Connectedness Scale
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Do you think child-free places should be banned?
Have you and your family ever wanted to eat out or go to a public place but you haven't been able to due to "no children" rules? Well, France is facing a debate about this, as a group of politicians are hoping to bring in a ban on all adult-only holiday spots, including hotels, campsites and restaurants. They are hoping to make it possible to take legal action against places that ban children, saying it discriminates against a whole section of everyday society - of the ban say not everywhere is child-friendly and adults should be allowed to have some places to proposal is a long way from becoming a law, but if it were to go ahead, France would become one of the world's first places to bring in a total ban like this. Do you think it is fair to ban children from certain facilities? Or should adults be allowed to have some child-free spaces if they want them? Have your say in our vote and leave us a comment below too. Views for and against Some adults have spoken out against this idea in France, as they want to be able to choose whether to be around children or not. For example, some adults say they want to feel relaxed to read a book and swim in an adult-only pool, rather than the possibility of having noisy children around when they are on holiday. Some restaurants have spoken out of one too many bad experiences with young people creating lots of mess and noise. Nettie's House of Spaghetti in Tinton Falls, USA, said on their Instagram account that they "love kids" but due to "noise levels, lack of space for high chairs and cleaning up mess", they are no longer able to accommodate also said they wanted to take control of the situation after they were overwhelmed with "kids running around the restaurant".But people on the other side of the debate have said that families should be able to go anywhere and take their kids along too, as they are also members of society. They argue children usually misbehave when their needs aren't being looked after properly, and that it's important for children to learn how to behave properly in shared areas and to learn how to be considerate of other grown ups. And to do that they need to be able to access them.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Miley Cyrus opens up about why she hasn't had children and how she feels about motherhood in vulnerable interview
Miley Cyrus has opened up about why she hasn't had children in a new and vulnerable interview. The hitmaker, 32, revealed she isn't 'passionate' about motherhood as she got candid about being child-free. Speaking on The New York Times' The Interview podcast, Miley used a conversation about celebrity make-up brands to explain her position on having children. 'My stepdad asked me the other day, "Why are you the only one without a makeup line?"' she said. 'I was like, "Cause that's not my passion." He goes, "That's the right answer." And it made so much sense. It's like, "I don't have a makeup line because I'm not a makeup artist."' She continued: 'I feel that way about motherhood. It's just never been something that I've been overly passionate about.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'It's a lot of responsibility and devotion and energy, and if you're not passionate about that, I don't know how you do sleepless nights and 18 years of what my mum dealt with,' Miley added. 'And when I say 18 years, I mean 33, 'cause I'm still a baby. So I've never felt the burn, you know? And I think for me, the burn is everything.' Miley previously spoke about her position on children in an interview with SiriusXM Hits 1's The Morning Mash Up, confessing that starting a family has never been a priority for her. 'I never really cared that much,' she said. 'I am sure that my fans are going to pull up me at 12 saying 'Oh I want to have kids' but like I don't, as a 27 year old woman that would have a little bit more of a realistic idea of what they want. That has never been kind of my priority.' The Wrecking Ball hitmaker added that if she ever was to become a mother, she'd prefer to adopt when she thinks about the environmental issues and limited resources on earth. 'I actually think in a way, just looking at our climate change and our water and food it feels like to me if anything to me if anything that I would like to take someone that is on the earth. I love adoption and I think that's really amazing. 'I definitely don't think, I do not shame anyone that wants to have children. I just personally don't believe that's a priority for me in my life…. 'For me I don't just really think about marriage and things like this anymore…' It comes after Miley broke her silence on her father Billy Ray Cyrus ' shock new romance with Elizabeth Hurley, saying it has enabled her to love both her parents 'as individuals' and that seeing them happy has helped her finally 'grow up'. 'As I've gotten older, I respect my parents as individuals instead of as parents because, you know, my mom really loved my dad for her whole life,' said the pop icon who debuted her new single Easy Lover on Thursday. 'I took on some of my mom's hurt as my own, because it hurt her more than it hurt me as an adult. So I owned a lot of her pain as mine.' Speaking candidly on The Interview, a New York Times podcast, she added: 'But now that my mom is so in love with my stepdad, Dom, who I completely adore, and now that I see my dad finding happiness outside of that too, I can love them both as individuals instead of as a kind of parental pairing. I'm being an adult about it.' Miley's mom Tish, 58, split from country singer Billy Ray in 2022 after 28 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalised in 2023. She married Prison Break star Dominic Purcell in August the same year. 'At first, it's hard,' Miley added of her dad's new romance, 'because the little kid in you reacts before the adult in you can go, yes, that's your dad - but that's just another person that deserves to be in his bliss and to be happy. So my adult self has caught up. My child self has caught up.' Billy Ray, 63, was first linked to actress Elizabeth, 59, in April this year, following the end of his short-lived marriage to 36-year-old singer Firerose. The pair reportedly bonded over their shared love of horses and rural life, with a source saying at the time: 'It's early days but they've genuinely hit it off.' Reflecting on the relentless scrutiny surrounding her famous family and why today's media cycle makes those moments easier to weather - Miley continued: 'The thing I like about the new way that the world works is that everything is so fast, it's forgotten really quickly. In the Nineties when something happened... it would just last for a year. Now it's just gone. 'Social media moves so fast. It just eats everything. Something may seem really important for a couple hours but then there's a meme that goes viral - somebody scats at Walmart or something - and that becomes the next thing.'
