I just want to snuggle this gigantic pile of fluff:

https://twitter.com/piinkifairy/status/1389582053591638025

The Russian version of the Evergreen colllege student ensemble:

https://twitter.com/lporiginalg/status/1391056011046178821

Lenona, give this five or ten minutes from 19 minutes.

Thanks Crid, I'll get to it.

In the meantime, there are two or three longish Reddit threads on the recent NYT article about interviews with childfree women. The comments at the article itself seem to be mostly supportive, but, of course, there will always be the other kind. (I suspect that the MAIN reason some people keep asking "what if YOUR mother had chosen not to have you" is that too many people aren't quick-witted enough to laugh and say "then I wouldn't be able to care, obviously, so what's your point?")

So, from one Reddit thread:

https://old.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/n7nvxa/mombies_already_mad_about_the_nyt_article/?sort=new

(One day ago) Translove228: "I notice a lot of men in the comments section insisting that 'no one cares about this'. Like, no dude. If no one cared then this article wouldn't need to be written. Yet here we are with the article and you insisting that it shouldn't exist just because you don't care so everyone else in the world doesnt. People DO care about this and we are harassed all the time for it."

(MY theory is that it's easier for men - even divorced fathers - to get married than it is for women. So, what those men were really trying to say, clumsily, was that if childfree women are under fire, for the most part, it isn't the men who are doing that. But who knows.)

From the OP, who posted the NYT link:

"...I saw a lot of comments from them bitching about this article being shared 'near MoThEr’s dAy wEeKenD' (gentle reminder Karen, that Mother’s Day is a DAY and not a ------- weekend). It just speaks volumes to me. If they were really happy and fulfilled in their choice, they wouldn’t see us as such a threat. God forbid there’s a ------- news article giving us attention when literally all of society already revolves around them and their choices..."

More comments (there are nearly 500):

SpikyPancake 1 day ago
"A child free commenter replied to the article:
“ 'Do I feel fulfilled as a woman? I do not know what that means, but I do feel very fulfilled as a human being--to me that is more important.'
"And it struck me in such a deeply held place inside that I’m still reeling."

CavalishLast male heir, staying that way. 1 day ago
" 'Don’t post this so close to Mother’s Day, the ONE DAY when it’s about celebrating mothers!'
"These women out here really telling on themselves that the people in their lives only respect them on one day."

AboveTheClooouds 21 hours ago
"My favorite comment:
'Why are we asking these questions to women who choose not to be parents? The people who should be under the microscope are those who want children. I can assure you many of them aren't in it to selflessly love and nurture a human being and give them the best start in life.'
"Yes! So glad someone else said it!"

vivahermione 1 day ago
"I guess the Pope is selfish, then."

Top-rated comment:

"Ugh. Just admit the ladies in article made you jealous and go."

Another thread on the same article - this comment's nice:

https://old.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/n80h1n/how_dare_you_talk_about_cf/?sort=confidence

Radiant-Fudge 1 day ago*
"I find it so weird how many women seem to center their identity exclusively around the fact that they are mothers. Being a good parent is legitimately hard work, and even the best pregnancy and birth sure are hard too, but with all due respect: just birthing a child doesn't make you special. And it's not that great of an achievement, really.

"My mom never did this. She got pregnant and was forced to have the baby at 17, and even though she was so young, she always retained a distinct personality apart from 'mom'. She actually very much insisted on that, and would make me entertain myself in the evenings once she deemed me old enough, because she wanted time to herself. As she should!

"My mom also refused to go on the mother-child-treatment-trip-thing that all mothers in my country are entitled to, because she didn't want to deal with two weeks of baby and pregnancy talk lol. And she also never wanted me to get her something for mother's day because she thinks it's a bullshit capitalist holiday for jewelers, florists and chocolate-makers and doesn't want me and my dad to think we can pay off our guilty conscience with some flowers and a necklace once a year.

"I love my mom so much it hurts sometimes. I never felt unloved because she didn't center her entire world around me, and never loved her any less for it. Quite the opposite: It made her more interesting to me and our bond as adults stronger, because she retained her sense of self all throughout my childhood and adolescence. It's actually quite sad to me how many women seem to think that they HAVE to lose themselves in motherhood, when that is very unhealthy and damaging to themselves and the children."