Child-free advocate puts her success down to not having kids - and wants people to stop telling her "she will change her mind one day"
- last year
A child-free advocate puts her success down to not having kids - and wants people to stop telling her "she will change her mind one day".
LeNora Faye, 40 - who was raised as a devout Christian - thought she would get married and have children by the age of 25.
But when she turned 22, LeNora realised if she stuck to her plan she only had three years left to achieve everything she wanted to do.
After her mum passed away and her brother became a young dad, she had a strong gut feeling she would never have kids and decided to rebel against societal expectations.
She stayed single and rejected motherhood and started sharing her experience online - building a child-free advocacy network.
Last week actor Seth Rogan spoke out to share how he owes his successful life and career to being child-free - something LeNora can relate to.
LeNora, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, said: "I knew I didn't want to have kids when I was younger - I had a dedicated stay-at-home mum and my dad supported the family.
"I felt there was something more but I didn't know what.
"I was raised in a very religious environment and womanhood was synonymous with motherhood.
"It was a societal expectation and I never thought about my options.
"We need people of a certain status and in the public eye, like Seth Rogan, who have actually chosen to have no kids and speak out.
"There is a distinction between child-less and child free - can't lump us together.
"It is important to speak up about it."
LeNora grew up as a keen violinist, she became a teacher by the age of 15 and pursued a professional career at 18.
She said: "It gave me a focus. I knew I could support myself.
"I didn't have to marry and have kids."
When she was 22, LeNora had an epiphany.
She said: "My mum passed away and my 19-year-old brother had got his girlfriend pregnant.
"Life was falling apart."
LeNora said amongst her peers it was expected they would have kids and a husband by the age of 25.
She said: "If I wanted to get married and have kids by 25, I would only have three years to accomplish what I want to do in life before my life is over.
"It suddenly dawned upon me I can choose. I don't have to get married and I don't have to have kids."
LeNora stopped her profession as a musician at aged 26 and pursued other paths - such as a bakery manager.
She took a year out in 2017 and decided to travel around Canada.
LeNora said: "I started blogging in 2018 about not wanting to have kids.
"Now I've dedicated my whole life to it.
"People don't know it's an option.
"When you say you're happy people don't believe you.
"I like kids but I have no interest in raising humans.
LeNora Faye, 40 - who was raised as a devout Christian - thought she would get married and have children by the age of 25.
But when she turned 22, LeNora realised if she stuck to her plan she only had three years left to achieve everything she wanted to do.
After her mum passed away and her brother became a young dad, she had a strong gut feeling she would never have kids and decided to rebel against societal expectations.
She stayed single and rejected motherhood and started sharing her experience online - building a child-free advocacy network.
Last week actor Seth Rogan spoke out to share how he owes his successful life and career to being child-free - something LeNora can relate to.
LeNora, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, said: "I knew I didn't want to have kids when I was younger - I had a dedicated stay-at-home mum and my dad supported the family.
"I felt there was something more but I didn't know what.
"I was raised in a very religious environment and womanhood was synonymous with motherhood.
"It was a societal expectation and I never thought about my options.
"We need people of a certain status and in the public eye, like Seth Rogan, who have actually chosen to have no kids and speak out.
"There is a distinction between child-less and child free - can't lump us together.
"It is important to speak up about it."
LeNora grew up as a keen violinist, she became a teacher by the age of 15 and pursued a professional career at 18.
She said: "It gave me a focus. I knew I could support myself.
"I didn't have to marry and have kids."
When she was 22, LeNora had an epiphany.
She said: "My mum passed away and my 19-year-old brother had got his girlfriend pregnant.
"Life was falling apart."
LeNora said amongst her peers it was expected they would have kids and a husband by the age of 25.
She said: "If I wanted to get married and have kids by 25, I would only have three years to accomplish what I want to do in life before my life is over.
"It suddenly dawned upon me I can choose. I don't have to get married and I don't have to have kids."
LeNora stopped her profession as a musician at aged 26 and pursued other paths - such as a bakery manager.
She took a year out in 2017 and decided to travel around Canada.
LeNora said: "I started blogging in 2018 about not wanting to have kids.
"Now I've dedicated my whole life to it.
"People don't know it's an option.
"When you say you're happy people don't believe you.
"I like kids but I have no interest in raising humans.