Nicole Barney

Holidays bring families together, but they also highlight the places where we don’t fully understand each other's lives. For childfree adults, this season can be both beautiful and emotionally complicated. We show up with love. We show up with generosity. But we also show up carrying unseen pressure. There are a few things we wish the people who love us understood about this time of year.

When someone confidently says they don’t want kids, it somehow invites a flood of opinions from strangers. But the truth is that none of it has anything to do with you. The criticism says more about their discomfort than your decision.

The holidays can feel like a test of your personal boundaries. Suddenly everyone has opinions about where you should be, how long you should stay, and what your role should look like. If you’re childfree, this pressure often intensifies. People assume you’re available, flexible, and willing to fill every gap that families leave open. Protecting your peace becomes an act of self-respect in a season that demands a lot.