I'm very pleased with the mostly positive response that I've gotten after Impact aired recently, where the issue of some men and women wanting to be 'child free' was discussed.

The show also looked at men and women who are delaying having children. It's gratifying to know that a programme can reach so many and give them the strength to be true to their maternal and paternal instincts or the lack thereof.

We live in a society that places so much stress on men and women having children, that many opt to do so, though they might not be financially, emotionally or psychologically ready fi bring forth a 'yute'.

Our culture mek it seem like if yuh no have a pickney or a whole heap a dem, something wrong wid yuh! Some people mek it look like if yuh no get pregnant, God ago tun him back pon yuh!

disgust and disdain

To how some a dem deadly, if a woman ever seh she no want no pickney, the disgust and disdain and judgement weh dem throw down pon her, yuh woulda think a crime she commit! But I'm saying it's Ok to want or not to want children. It doesn't make a woman any less if she decides not to have children. It is her decision, her right, and it should be respected.

Weh day, smaddy ask mi weh mi a weh mi a wait pon fi "breed", mi tell her mi nuh into breeding cause a dog alone breed! Mi explain to her seh my ting no deh a breed, I'm want a family and stability, where my children will be secure and well taken care of and with a father/daddy who is present. Mi see she skin up har face, but chu she memba seh a three tongue mi have, she rest the argument!

Nuff a who a brag and a boast bout pickney and having kids a wicked and liad! Nuff a dem pickney a consequence and not a choice. Some a dem have the pickney fi hold di man or because dem friend have or because dem succumb to the societal pressure weh seh all when yuh hungry and naked, yuh fi have baby same way!

Nuff a dem, the pickney born cause dem neva have the abortion money or because the man deh a farin and trick dem seh him ago file fi dem and the baby! But story come to bubble gum when the baby born and the man disappear and the sufferation start!

Then dem tek out dem stress troubles pon the poor baby dem, who did not ask to be here! Dem beat and ill treat the pickney dem, den come a road come gwaan like dem a modda of di year! Nuff a dem a wicked! Dem have in Brazilian hair and dem baby school fee no pay! Nuff a dem put dem baby fi sleep a grung while dem and dem man sprawl out inna bed!

parent for life

It is better yuh know seh yuh no ready fi a baby and tek the necessary precautions than run in go have and then stress people and the society when the plan no work out. Some man know dem no have what it takes to have and raise a child properly, so they opt to wait.

Nutten no wrong wid dat! Me prefer a man who no have none because him no ready or because him no want none than a man weh have a tribe a dem weh him naa mine! Becoming a mother or a father is no joke. When the baby born, come what may, you are a parent for life. Anno like yuh can return to sender! It is a decision that must be taken seriously.

Because of children, many persons have had to give up their goals and dreams to focus on them, some of whom grow up fi be ungrateful and wutliss like wah! So anno everybody ago give up dem dreams fi alacta one plus and pampers!

We all have our lives to live, and not wanting children doesn't mean a woman hate pickney or something 'wrong' with her, something is wrong with those who no have it and continue to have children who dem cyaa mine and care for. Don't be ashamed of your choice, because at the end of the day, one has to be true to him or herself!