How the Childfree can help safeguard the futre
I saw this really interesting article in the Observer Cash section on Sunday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/03/1
Basically, it's about how childfree individuals are more likely to leave legacies to charities in their wills. In addition to being a coach, I'm also a fundraiser for charities and I know what an amazing gift a legacy can be to a charity.
I also know that before I had my child, I did leave a proporation of my (meagre) estate in my will but now I have the boy, I have left everything to him and my partner if he survives me. The article has made me re-think this - although because my partner is so much older than me (early 60's), I would really want him to be finanically secure to bring up my child.
So it think it's really an important point - particularly when people accuse childfree people of being selfish. When I'm coaching someone around the issue, one of the things I have them do is to identify there core values and look at how they can live those values - whether they have children or not. A strong value like 'Caring' can be lived in many ways - not just by having children. And leaving a legacy to a charity in your will is a great way to do this.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/03/1
Basically, it's about how childfree individuals are more likely to leave legacies to charities in their wills. In addition to being a coach, I'm also a fundraiser for charities and I know what an amazing gift a legacy can be to a charity.
I also know that before I had my child, I did leave a proporation of my (meagre) estate in my will but now I have the boy, I have left everything to him and my partner if he survives me. The article has made me re-think this - although because my partner is so much older than me (early 60's), I would really want him to be finanically secure to bring up my child.
So it think it's really an important point - particularly when people accuse childfree people of being selfish. When I'm coaching someone around the issue, one of the things I have them do is to identify there core values and look at how they can live those values - whether they have children or not. A strong value like 'Caring' can be lived in many ways - not just by having children. And leaving a legacy to a charity in your will is a great way to do this.
Comments
To the people who use this accusation, any action or behaviour that does not revolve around having children is selfish.
So:
*Sleeping in in the mornings because you don't have a child = selfish
*Having a clean and tidy house because you don't have a child = selfish
*Giving time to charity because you have the time available by not having children = selfish
*Giving money to charity when you die because you don't have children to leave it to = selfish
*Helping people (not your child) when they have car troubles = selfish
*Saving a person's life (not your child) = selfish
This seems ridiculous to me!
Decided I would love to interview you! Send me an email if you are interested.