Kate McDonough, a South Dakota-based illustrator, does not want children, and some people can’t seem to understand this.
McDonough enjoys drawing comics, portraits, and a variety of other amusing subjects. She told Bored Panda, “Humor has always been at the centre of much of my work; it’s how I cope with the anxiety and health issues I’ve faced over time.”
Since art has always been McDonough’s favourite mode of expression, she chose to use a comic to justify her decision not to have children. And she did a good job. Not only did the cartoonist perfectly capture her own — and many others’ — feelings, but she also portrayed how society handles them, causing people to reflect and reconsider their views on the subject.
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McDonough believes that some people are offended when she claims she doesn’t want children because they don’t understand her point of view. Especially if they have their own children. “They would not be able to imagine their lives without that joy. It could also be uncomfortable because most people expect the typical response of “Oh, we’ll try soon!” There isn’t a standard answer to give when someone says they don’t want kids.”
The artist explained, “The end of my comic tries to fix the issue; not much needs to be said other than acceptance!” “Asking about children has also been common for a long time, and I believe people are now realising that there are a variety of reasons why someone does not want to have children. It’s best not to inquire without being asked. When someone wants to talk about whether or not they want to have children, it’s helpful to be respectful and, if appropriate, to ask questions.”
When it comes to couple conversations, McDonough claims that raising children is one of the issues that should be discussed. “Even if you are a young couple with no imminent plans for children, it can become a very emotionally difficult problem down the road,” she said. “When one partner desires children and the other does not, it can be a deal-breaker for many couples. There are people who manage to make it work; however, each relationship is special, and communication is key. Everyone’s thoughts on the topic are entirely true. ” Whatever the case may be, McDonough believes that knowing the facts up front is preferable to discovering later that you disagree. We can’t just say that everyone shares our feelings. This is true in a number of cases.
This is definitely a tough subject to base a comic on, and if anyone could’ve done it, it’s McDonough. She’s been drawing and writing all of my life.
Here’s what people said after reading Kate’s comic
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