I'm a proud, child-free cat lady. Children are still important to me — I just don't want any of my own.

• My husband and I have chosen to remain child-free.
• I'm also a cat lady, and I couldn't be happier about my decisions.
• In my work as an educator and children's book author, I'm still an advocate for families.

I am a 44-year-old child-free woman and certified cat lady. My list of reasons for not having children is as varied and gruesome as the day is long. I grew up in a home defined by chaos, emotional invalidation, substance misuse, and financial insecurity.

I knew early on that I didn't want a child of my own to inherit the legacy I've spent my life healing and extricating from. Remaining child-free was the wisest and kindest choice I could have made.