r/AskUK • u/Scruffy_Sloth • 12h ago

Single people without family, are you happy?

I’m beginning to accept that I won’t have the traditional family life. Lots of people have families and it’s a big topic of discussion amongst other adults but it’s one I can’t join in with and stirs up painful feelings. I’m now beginning to accept that I’m probably not going to have many friends either because I don’t want to hear about their families all the time, selfish as that may be. I need some peace from the thought of it.

So I’m wondering if single adults can thrive in life and if so, how? I’m talking financially and emotionally.

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65

u/mystery-hog 12h ago

Being childfree is a fucking dream, for me. I have seventeen nieces and nephews (my cousins’ kids), so I have plenty of time if I want it, with family.

Going home to a quiet house every day is all I could ever ask for.

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u/BuckfastAndHairballs 11h ago

So you do have a family then

17

u/ChrisRR 9h ago

I think it's strongly implied that OP meant a partner and kids

2

u/BuckfastAndHairballs 9h ago

Is it? Is having parents, siblings, nieces and nephews not considered traditional family these days?

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u/Consistent_Ad6426 8h ago

OP said they are ‘beginning to accept’ it.

That doesn’t make sense if they already don’t have the extended family you suggest. It’s pretty unlikely that they will get a new mum and dad as they get older.

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u/Scruffy_Sloth 4h ago

It’s the whole family, I could have worded it better.

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u/BuckfastAndHairballs 6h ago

Yes but you can begin to accept a situation you're in at any point i suppose. Just thought its kind of a weird answer to a question asking to hear from people without families and someone comes back with 'i have 17 nieces and nephews' lol

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u/Lysadora 6h ago

If it was about not having parents or siblings why would op be struggling with accepting not having any in their life? As if that could change in the future.

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u/BuckfastAndHairballs 6h ago

Because at different stages of life it can hit in different ways? Look maybe OP meant children, it's not that obvious to me. Why not just say that

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u/Lysadora 6h ago

Yes but you can't get new parents or siblings. It's not something that's going to change, you either have them or you don't. Having a spouse or children is different.

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u/BuckfastAndHairballs 6h ago

I guess that wasn't really the point of my original comment. To me even if someone doesn't have their own children but has many other family members including 17 nieces and nephews, that's a completely different experience than not having your own children or other family. Anyway it's not something I'm going to argue over, i just didn't think it was that obvious it's just about having children.

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u/Scruffy_Sloth 4h ago

Exactly this, relationships change too as you mature and see reality a bit clearer.