Anonymous wrote:How awkward is it going to be as their kid later in life when she Googles and finds out that for years her mom didn't even want kids. Like, actively talked about not wanting kids in many interviews.
Same with Zooey Deschanel.
I actually don't think this will be a big deal unless they decide they hate having kids now that they have them, and treat their kids accordingly.
If the kids are loved and wanted, then it's actually a sweet story to pass down, like "I was certain I didn't want kids and would be happy without them, but then I changed my mind and now realize how incredibly wrong I was because I can't imagine not being your mom." It is also a useful conversation starter about family planning and life choices with teens and adult kids, because it demonstrates how you can be so sure about something and then change your mind, and you don't have to lock yourself into anything. You can evolve and make different choices for yourself.
My kid knows that for a long time I was pretty ambivalent about having kids -- I didn't definitely not want them, but I wasn't sure I'd make a good mom or be ready for the sacrifice of kids. But we've had conversations about what that changed and what made me decide I wanted to be a mom after all, and I know for a fact that she likes these conversations. It's also interesting to hear her talk about her own plans -- she really, really wants to be a mom at this point. Which I think is great and might be an indication that I make motherhood look appealing. A major reason I was ambivalent about having kids is that my mom clearly hated motherhood and maybe shouldn't have become a mom (or at least had fewer kids) and that really impacted how I viewed it. But I actually love being a mom (and am also glad I stopped at one) and I know my DD can feel that.
TL;DR -- as long as their kids are loved and wanted, I don't think they'll care that their moms once said back in their 20s that they didn't want kids.