Nicole Barney

The stereotypes about childfree people that defined the early 2000s don’t make sense anymore. They don’t match the world we live in or the lives people are actually building. What’s taking their place is a more honest conversation about autonomy, values, finances, boundaries, and what adulthood can look like when you choose it for yourself.

The choice to get a dog instead of having children is one that’s increasingly gaining traction, especially among the younger generations. It’s a practical, financial, and emotional decision for many people who want the perks of parenthood but without the financial drain and heavy responsibility of raising a human.

A baby at an Arj Barker comedy show sparked outrage, but the real issue isn’t breastfeeding or parent-shaming. It’s the growing discomfort with adult-only spaces. Here’s why babies don’t belong at comedy shows, why boundaries matter, and why protecting adult environments isn’t exclusion, it’s respect for shared experiences.