Maybe, baby

Unsure about parenthood? Welcome to the club.

- Lucy Cheek

To breed or not to breed? That's the question increasingly on the minds of Gen Zs and millennials. It seems we're 'generation maybe', perched on the fence with one leg dangling over baby gurgles, sippy cups, and school runs, while the other hovers over a life of freedom, financial stability, and sleep-ins. The decision of whether or not to have kids can be torturous. There's camp Aching Ovaries, who feel that having children is fulfilling their biological destiny. Then there's camp No F*cking Way, where the idea of spoon-feeding smooshed carrots to a toddler is on par with having open-heart surgery—without anaesthetic. There's also the people who, for various reasons, are unable to have children.

If you're somewhere in the middle, you're part of a growing cohort. On TikTok, 'Do I Want Kids?' has clocked up 125m posts at the time of going to print. There are myriad social media accounts devoted to helping people decide. Kic co-founder and influencer Laura Henshaw (30) even has a podcast called Do I Want Kids? where she discusses pros and cons. Moreover, the 'childfree by choice' movement is mushrooming, with online communities and influencers spouting the benefits of a kid-free existence. This can leave those on the fence even more overwhelmed and unsure.