American Woman Lists 417 Reasons Not to Have Children
Rylee Evert, a 22-year-old from the U.S., sparked a lively debate after sharing her extensive list of reasons for not wanting children. Her list includes points such as children being messy, noisy, prone to biting, and expensive.
“I have 417 reasons not to have children, and none supporting having them,” Rylee said.
As a babysitter, Rylee has regularly researched the realities of pregnancy and child-rearing. Two years ago, she began compiling her list, which continues to grow. With each addition, Rylee’s reluctance to become a mother only increases.
“Many people don’t consider the practicalities of having children; they only think about how cute they are or the idea of having someone to care for them in old age,” Rylee noted.
Her video, which presents her 417 reasons, has garnered over three million views since it was posted. Rylee was surprised to find that many viewers agreed with her list.
“As a parent, I find this list quite accurate. I don’t see any lies in it,” commented one viewer.
Reading the comments, Rylee felt relieved to receive support from many people. She believes there are more pressing concerns than having children, one of which is financial stability. Raising a child means covering expenses such as clothing, strollers, healthcare, insurance, diapers, food, and education—while her own income barely covers rent.
However, there are differing opinions. Some people believe Rylee will change her mind as she gets older or criticize her for what they see as selfishness and spreading negative thoughts to younger generations.
“I would rather regret not having children than regret having them and placing all the burden on them. Honestly, having children just to have someone to take care of you or inherit your legacy is the real selfish act,” Rylee shared.
Nevertheless, Rylee emphasized that she has no intention of advising others against having children. Her goal is to raise awareness about the realities of pregnancy and parenting.
