When did Michael decide to become childless?

In the past, young married couples often had children right after getting married, They didn’t ask themselves if they had the desire to stay up at night with babies, to spend a good part of their time with children, to give up going out at night whenever they wanted to. Now, many young couples feel that not having children will allow them to have a free, more enjoyable life style.
     Michael, 29, and his wife Pamela, 31, are one of the growing number of young couples who don’t have, and don’t want children. Many of their close friends are childless and plan to remain that way. Michael works for the Canadian consulate in San Francisco. He says the decision not to have children developed over four years of marriage. He explains, "We never decided to become childless. It more or less became an understanding after we got married. "Pamela, publications editor for a travel business in Berkeley, adds, "As the years went by, I got used to idea of working and not having children. It’s too late to change now."
     For both of them, the desire for a free style played a big part in the decision. Michael, who wants to build a career in communications, makes the point honestly. We are just too selfish to have children at this point. We would rather buy the things we really want than go without things for the sake of the children. If we had a kid, we would have to start thinking a bout its education and health. We like the independence of getting up and going somewhere whenever we want. I want to get ahead. I have to take a lot of risks.
     Pamela, too, is concerned about her career. But she also speaks about the need to prevent overpopulation. She says she is a supporter of Zero Population Growth. Thus, the decision has been made to remain childless. For other couples un sure of whether or not to have children, Pamela says, "If you want children, it should be a positive decision. A couple should really want to have a child and be interested in its growth."