VLOG: what I eat in a day (vegan), summer is here + I turned 30! 🌞

[@GlitterySawa]

I am 42, and As someone who also does not want Children, i think it take strength to be honest about what is best for you as a person and other people won't understand but you ultimately have to do what's best for you. ❤ it took me a while to accept me not wanting kids is ok .

[@CharlotteOHara1]

HBD Amanda! I'm 35 and trust me that self-confidence and a chilled out sense of who you are will just get stronger and stronger over time, it's an amazing feeling :)

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much & thank you for sharing that :) 🧡

[@jiggabot]

Happy 30!!! 🎉 I’m 42 and have been with my husband for 22 years. We never wanted kids - we are happy rescuing fur babies and love them so very much! ❤ I love being an auntie to my friends kids - it’s so much fun. I just always knew I didn’t want to have children and that’s ok!

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you! 🧡 And thank you so much for sharing this, makes me feel so comforted. I also want so many fur babies, my boyfriend and I are always resisting the urge to adopt another cat haha x

[@pinktulipsx]

i feel the same way about children, and thinking about the fact all my friends and family surrounding me will have kids except me. i'm so glad you talked about this because it can feel really lonely when no one takes you seriously when you say you don't want kids

[@AmandaDucks]

I totally understand. Sending you love 🧡

[@tiffanylee6480]

Loved this video - thank you Amanda! Happy birthday, and I hope the surgery goes well! I love that you opened up this discussion which I don't think is spoken about enough. There does seem to be more expectation that a woman should want to have kids, whereas if a man doesn't have any interest in having kids, society seems more likely to just accept that he has other goals and interests, and just hasn't pictured a life with kids for himself. I think as a society we should have the same expectation that women are all different, and we shouldn't expect that women all have that same goal (of having kids). I'm 38 and have had many people tell me I have to have kids right away (even though I don't want to have kids), and honestly sometimes I think they just need to hear themselves talk. Even if you are eventually 40 or 50 years old and it seems like all of your friends have kids, I don't think you'll be lonely - you can still spend time with those friends and their kids if you want to. (My mom has a friend like that who is like an aunt to us even though we aren't related; we have always loved and still love spending time with her! And we will always look out for her when she gets older, just like we will look out for our own parents.) I think when we just try to do what society expects, or do what we feel will make us fit in, we're more likely to have regrets and sadness than when we make decisions based on what we really want and what we're actually excited about. And it's ok if some of your friends don't understand your decision; at the end of the day, they want you to be happy, and to do that, you have to follow your own path - not the path someone else wants for you. I'm glad you are finding more confidence in yourself, and hopefully this online community here lets you know that there are many people who have similar ideas and who understand you! :)

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much! 🧡 I really appreciate you sharing this & totally agree with what you are saying. I also feel so lucky to have this community & also some friends in real life who are leaning towards being childfree. I think it's comforting having that kind of support. Thank you again for sharing your stry and the story of your Mum's friend x

[@charliesspace7119]

I turned 30 this year and got married in October. I’m also a teacher and people ask me all the time when I’m having kids and tell me that I’d make a good mom but there’s so much more to it than that. I don’t have that maternal instinct either but I’m good with kids because of my job. I see way too many kids being neglected as it is and with the way the world is, I wouldn’t want to bring another life into it

[@hannahdonovan4330]

Thank you so much for this video! I am 32 and also have never had the maternal instinct kick in. I haven't wanted children and don't see that changing, and I too am nervous I will be the only one in my friend group to not have children. It's nice to hear this same perspective from someone else! I also feel like the things I should want or should be going after in my 30s (house, career, marriage) are things that aren't super important to me. Thank you for vocalizing that you feel the same, and feel like you just want to connect with loved ones, do things you love, and make a positive impact. That's all I want as well, and sometimes I feel like that isn't enough when I see others around me getting married, having kids, having careers, etc. But seeing this video today shows me that it's ok to feel how I feel, it's completely normal, and there are other lovely people out there who feel the same. Thank you!

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much for sharing this Hannah!! It honestly makes me feel really comforted 🧡 Something else I try and remind myself is that, like it seems in this instance, there will be people who feel the same as us and no matter what happens in life we will have the opportunity to connect with new people who have similar values to us at different stages in life. Idk if that makes sense hahaha but it's something I try and remember x

[@hannahdonovan4330]

@@AmandaDucks it totally makes sense! I try to remember that too, and it definitely brings me comfort and makes me more confident in my decisions. 30 was great, I hope you enjoy it!

[@rachelhayden148]

I’m also 100% with you on the child front. I am 29 and am very confident I do not want children so is my husband who is 42. It’s completely fine and i think it should be more socially acceptable to want to spend your money and time on yourself plus I don’t want to bring another being onto this planet when life is really difficult.

[@tinacarrazzo8888]

Women need to talk more about this. The more we talk, the more it becomes normalised. There is no shame in these decisions. These choices, whether they have been chosen mentally or physically, it is what it is.

[@AmandaDucks]

I completely agree with everything you said Rachel, thank you so much for sharing this 🧡 🧡

[@cmad13]

Nothing has been more true!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@astralalumnuspastichian]

Happy Birthday Amanda! I think just because there's a maternal instinct, it doesn't have to only match up to having one's own children. With maturity, everybody has the ability to nurture whatever they choose.

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you! 🧡 That is such a great point, I appreciate you sharing x

[@reneeg9151]

I took turning 29 really hard, 30 was a breeze. Now im 48, i had a marriage, i have a career, i do not have children - by choice. Ive never once regretted that choice. At 48 ive never felt more me than i do right now. Everyone lives there lives at different paces and i am very blessed to have family who never once gave me grief about any of my decisions ... well maybe the marriage and you know what fair point to them lol. You do what feels right for you, you are the only one you need to answer to. Much love from New Brunswick, Canada!

[@kirlynz2554]

I'm almost 40 and that elusive maternal instinct still hasn't kicked in for me either, lol! Sometimes I do worry that someday maybe I'll regret not having kids, but mostly I just super appreciate the many perks of my child-free life! 😉🥳 And I actually have many friends (of all ages) who also don't have kids, so I think I'll be in good company when I get older!

[@AmandaDucks]

Thankyou so much for sharing this!! Makes me feel very comforted 🧡 🧡

[@phillippinter7518]

Thank you for mentioning the kids thing. No one has ever pressured or expected me to have kids (as a young gay man). But I have a lot of empathy and I see it happen to other people and it makes me upset that people still do this, not that they should have ever being doing this. Not just that but in like every TV show in the kids debate its always the one who wants kids that wins, when people post threads or videos about not wanting kids they often get hate from people who already have kids.

[@AmandaDucks]

You are so right, I have seen so many childfree content creators be torn to shreds just for simply stating they don't want to have children. It's quite jarring because at the end of the day, it should be the person who is going to have or not have a childs choice! But our society just seems so triggered by people doing different things.

[@jackiesilver5736]

I love your vlogs!! Can you please do them more often? Happy birthday! I’m 32 and went through exactly the same thoughts as you about societal timelines at 30 and still do tbh. I’m always working on letting go of those fake timelines and of the life I thought I would have by now and embrace my life as it is

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you & yes! I am trying to vlog more often for sure :) I appreciate you sharing Jackie, thank you x

[@Blinkingbetty]

Happy birthday Amanda! 🥳 I love how you update us with your life as well as your amazing recipes.

[@dianaantal7356]

I am 49 and child free. There are always opportunities for friendships. There is no worry about being left out, because people of similar interests will find you. Make friends with people of all ages. I have a friend in her 70s and others in their 30s. You can have a rich and fulfilling life without having your own children. As for societal norms for women, this will matter less to you, and perhaps not at all, with time. Your thirties are really a decade to become more of who you are and embody your own values and joys. The 40s can be a time of ascension, where you rise above the ideas and constructs of what society wants for you. Your life can feel truly your own. The opinions of others can feel as important as a breeze blowing by. It’s about you! So much love!

[@JoN-yi3my]

Happy 30th! I definitely feel you gain more clarity and confidence in your 30s and 40s. I’ve always known I wanted to be child free and have never regretted it for a second. You may go through a period where all your friends are having kids and you feel like you lose your connection with them and this can be hard, but hang in there, if they’re meant to be in your life it all comes back around again once the children are a bit older. Hope your procedure goes well xx

[@freesiajasmine534]

Hi Amanda, I'm seven years older than you & I do very much relate to what you were saying. I didn't particularly feel a pressure at 30. People were a bit more presumptuous when I was younger. Occasionally it is a bit annoying when some people (who don't actually really know me) presume I might want what other people do. But at the end of the day it's not up to them. It is hard sometimes to get time to see friends who have small children - but those children do grow up, so that changes over time. I think we're lucky that we do have a choice. This was a lovely positive video. I wish you all the best with the surgery! And a belated happy birthday!

[@AmandaDucks]

Hello! Thank you so much for sharing your story, I really appreciate it and totally agree with what you are saying x

[@CHK12319]

Happy birthday 🎉 I’m currently 28 but I’ve always had this intuition that my 30s will be my favorite decade! The pressure to have everything figured out really tormented me around age 26. I’ve since let that go, and ironically, way more has fallen into place :) housing costs are insane these days so I think all of us millennials need to give ourself grace on that front 💗

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you! You're so right, the more we let go the more things seem to come easier. Funny, isn't it? 🧡 And you're right, who is buying a home in this economy 😂 xx

[@rachelhayden148]

I’m always excited for another video from you ! thank you for all the work you put into them and this channel

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you 🧡 🧡

[@donnaadkins2429]

Happy 30 years on this amazing planet! I think the confidence comes from maturity and acceptance 🙂. Just wait until your in your 50's, it's mind blowing!! 🤯 Love this channel and your videos, wish I was there, it's winter here in Northumberland, UK and pretty miserable 🌧🌨🌫🌬

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you! 🧡 I am really looking forward to ageing and embracing and loving myself more and more as time goes on. Thank you for watching x

[@smclaughlin14]

I'm in my mid thirties and all of my best friends have babies, and it's so fun being the child free auntie! I'm the only friend in the friend group to not have kids, but I haven't felt any type of way about it. We support each other and offer unique perspectives, which I value a lot. Speaking on the confidence in your thirties, it brings a whole new world and it actually makes me excited to get older. We're so young when you really think about it! Looking back, I wouldn't want to be in my early twenties and I find it interesting how they are so glorified.

[@maryegerton6848]

Isn’t it funny how people have so many expectations of other people’s lives? I’m 65 and I remember my thirtieth birthday so clearly. I had the husband and two kids and no money to my name but I went to visit my sister, and as broke as we were, we had a fantastic time just hanging out at her place. I always teased her about how awful her tea was, so for my birthday she gave me a box of fancy tea. lol. She had no money for gift wrap, so she wrapped it in wallpaper 🤣 It was the best birthday ever. You know, I always told my boys if you don’t want children, then definitely don’t have them. Do whatever you want. It’s your life, and all I expect from you is your own happiness. Happy Birthday Amanda. I have been following you for many years, and I can’t believe you’re 30. You still look 20❤ luv you xoxo

[@AmandaDucks]

So true! Thank you so much for sharing this story Mary, it sounds like an amazing birthday! Thank you also for supporting me for so long, I appreciate you so much 🧡

[@Sprinklesofadventure]

Happy birthday 🥳

[@kellydenmeade2504]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

[@rachelmorris1309]

i can totally relate on not wanting kids and having people say that those maternal feelings will kick in. but i can also relate on finding more confidence in my 30’s! it has been the best decade yet. welcome to the club and happy birthday ❤

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much Rachel!! 🧡

[@beatrizneves304Youtube]

Hello Amanda 💞 Happy Birthday I totally understand you situation and those pressions from normative society. Such a sensitive topic. I apreciate the fact that you trust your community. We 're here for you 💖😅

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much 🧡 🧡 🧡

[@DannyD727]

Happy birthday. There's only 1 Amanda, 1 you. Only YOU know what's right for you. I'm 48 and child free. In my mid twenties, I considered having a child as a single woman. I would have had the support of family and friends but then realised it wasn't what I really wanted. Some friends had kids and I became the fun "aunt". The kids brought love and joy but has they grew older, our relationships changed, and that's fine. I will not regret my decision to be child free. I have a career I love, own my home and making plans to retire in 6-8 years. I will travel and possibly purchase a house in Portugal, Spain or France. Which none of my friends with kids can do. To each our own dreams and lives.

[@AmandaDucks]

Hi Danny! Thank you so much for sharing this, makes me feel so comforted 🧡 🧡

[@AmandaDucks]

What a dream to live in Portugal, Spain or France 😍

[@melgray297]

Confidence comes when you stop caring what others think (hard in your industry) and start loving yourself fully. Each day look in the mirror and tell yourself something you fully love about yourself, then stand and spend a few moment loving and appreciating that thing. As for babies, if they are meant to be in your life they will be, don’t worry on it just live each day.

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you for sharing this Mel 🧡

[@alanadorris1274]

Love your channel and I feel very similarly about my 30s. I thought I'd be married, have a house, have a career, and my life hasn't worked out that way and I'm very much OK with it and learning to accept more and more that my life doesn't need to look like what society told me

[@Sum.Mer444]

highly recommend getting a "lucky iron fish" for iron. its a chunk of iron that you put in your food when cooking. super bioavailable and absorbable and easy, made for anemia and boosted my iron really quickly.

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you! 🧡

[@hannafox990]

Thank you for talking about the child-free topic. My boyfriend and I do not want to have kids but I am scared that I will regret it. I don’t think I will, but it scares me… I would love it if you spoke more about this ❤

[@BlackButterfly14]

Happy Birthday, dear! I can actually relate to some of what you said. I kind of got out of that social norm of getting your life together or having some idea of what you're suppose to be doing, well before I turned 30 because my mid to late 20s, were all about my spiritual journey that I knew I wanted to start. I would say I was nowhere near wanting to have children and wasn't pressured by people because I was only in between wanting children to not sure due to my own inner healing myself. So I would say that's where it differs from your experience so far turning into a new decade, which is totally fine. 🙂 I think your goal in self-love and working on your self-confidence and self-esteem is wonderful and trust me, everyone's journey in working on that is always different. There will always be times when you get discouraged, or wanting to give up due to whatever your underlying past hurts that led you to why you are the way you are, but the one thing I'm starting to remember now after going through my own working on myself, is knowing and always remembering that inner work means, never giving up on yourself. In other words, a lot of what you've said is an amazing validation for myself (said all this before entering my 30s, 33 going on 34 next month) and I appreciate you for that. 🥰

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much & thank you for sharing this 🧡 🧡 I love what you said about "never give up on yourself", really resonated. Thank you x

[@LJH093]

A great little trick to get some bonus iron in is to simply cook in cast iron pans ☺️

[@AmandaDucks]

Oh wow I have never heard that before! Thank you for sharing :)

[@LJH093]

@@AmandaDucks you're welcome ☺️💛

[@sophiewilliams5961]

happy birthday! this is such a beautiful and honest video, thank you so much. this made my day ❤

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much 🧡

[@moramorandobianchi7093]

First I always appreciate you, because most other vegan channels are currently posting ‘winter recipies’ and I’m like overheating here lol. Honestly I’m not even going to talk about the whole societal pressure to have children, like I’ve always been child-free, but lately I’m seeing the state of the world and my country and I just can’t understand why would someone bring a new human to this world tbh. It’s very extreme I know, and it’s obviously a thought I keep to myself. Thankfully the vast majority of my friends are also child-free, hehe maybe you need to open your social group to find more types of people? I mean if you’re really worried about being the only one that’s not married or with children. There’s a lot of people who think like us!

[@AmandaDucks]

Hahaha I feel you! I'm like "where are all the vegan Australians these days?!" I don't think what you're saying is extreme & tbh my boyfriend and I have discussed this a lot, it's very scary the state of the world and what could potentially happen in our lifetime/the lifetime of the next generation. I think it's absolutely something to consider when deciding to have children or not and it plays into our decision for sure! Thank you, you're so right! I'm lucky I have a handful of friends who are choosing to be childfree, but I also love meeting new people too :) 🧡

[@mscatherinelong67]

I had also raised the state of the world arguments with others and I think it may be a bit like veganism. They don’t want to think about it. In fact someone didn’t talk to me for 2 years after I raised this.

[@AmandaDucks]

I'm so sorry to hear that :( @@mscatherinelong67

[@7Cybele]

OMG Amanda I cried for you when I saw all the gochujang you put in 🔥😂 Oh and the Bon Sol picnic rug is so the pretty 💛🌞

[@AmandaDucks]

Hahaha it was spiccccy but good! I'm trying to learn to eat more spicy food lately!

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Another awesome vlog beautiful Amanda and 😋 food. It's great that it's summer in Australia because it helps me endure the winter weather in Scotland. Love 🥰 the vlog and love 💕 Amanda.

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much David 🧡

[@gsinclair2813]

Happy Birthday Amanda, I love the Numo caramel bars !! I put some sauerkraut on top of my avo on toast or the smashed peas on toast too

[@AmandaDucks]

Oooooh yum! I should try some sauerkraut soon

[@annpace3581]

Happy Birthday Amanda. I would love to know what you are drinking this morning you showed us. It looks so good. I love all of your recipes so much. You are such a lovely young lady. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes. 🎂🎉❤️

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you! I appreciate your kind comment 🧡 The drink is an iced cacao, which I just make by mixing cacao powder, maple syrup and water together and pouring it over some oat milk and ice x

[@JA49JA89]

Happy belated birthday! Best wishes for your upcoming surgery.

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you!

[@alannahtaylor5957]

30s are the best! Happy birthday gf!

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you!! 🧡

[@viivi4196]

happy late birthday! I've also seen more and more people talk about these things you mentioned, it's very nice! I'm 22 and if I've ever been sure of something, it's the fact that I don't want kids. it's never even been an option for me. I'm also queer so I already have a different life path than most people, and I somehow feel like those societal norms are often very heteronormative so I don't feel as pressured by some of them. anyway, it was super interesting to hear your thoughts! and gotta say that tofu pita bowl looked super delicious!

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much & thank you for sharing this 🧡

[@austongreen9883]

happy bday!!

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you!

[@mayscheidweiler287]

love this so much

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much, you are so kind 🧡

[@mirchen01]

Wishing you the very best ❤

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you 🧡 🧡

[@tonisharp8747]

How good is the pink grapefruit kombucha!!! Have you tried the watermelon mint one yet 🤤

[@AmandaDucks]

Ooooh I haven't seen the watermelon mint one! I will try it when I see it next :)

[@kathleen5800]

super peaceful intro 💌

[@AmandaDucks]

🧡 Thank you

[@debrawhobrey1625]

Don't listen to other peoples, you be you.

[@Sam-yc7ec]

I've known since I was at least 10 that I didn't want kids. By that point, I'd had enough experience with kids (I'm the oldest of 20+ cousins, my mom ran an in-home daycare, and I'd done enough baby sitting on my own) to know I didn't want them. I was also lucky enough to have some child-free adult role-models, so I knew that choosing not to have kids was a viable option. And, even at 10, when I looked around at the adults I knew that had kids vs the ones that didn't, the ones that didn't seemed SO much happier. When I would tell the child-free adults that I didn't want kids, they would just nod knowingly. And when I told the rest of the adults that I didn't want kids they always gave me the "you'll change your mind when you're older" line, which made me aggressively not want kids. I still have a friend from sixth grade who owes me $50 from a bet that I would change my mind and have kids by the time I was 30, lol. I am so happy with my life. I can't imagine risking that on something I don't even want.

[@sarahlev7169]

Amanda, every time you say "turning 30" Bo Burnham's song starts playing in my head🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AmandaDucks]

Hahahaha my boyfriend loves Bo Burnham and he is always singing that to me 😂😂

[@seandesmond5560]

Loved the video wonderful Ducky, your videos are like getting a hug from a good friend!!! 💖💖 I'm 41 i have mixed feelings about having children and I would like to have kids but its not a dealbreaker, if i met a woman and she doesn't want to have children or can't have children. I am of course happy to adopt cats and dogs!!! 🐱🐱🐶🐶

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you so much Sean, you are a gem 🧡

[@beatewolpert8685]

to me, as someone who's 27 and sure she doesn't want kids, it is so weird that people tell you "oh you'll regret it later if you don't get kids" - excuse me? You wan't me - someone who is not confident in being a mum, someone who cannot seee herself being a mum - to get kids, just in case I'll regret it later to not do so? Get a grip on yourself. It's a way bigger chance that I'll regret getting kids, that a regret that I didn't. In the latter case, I'd have to live with that choice. In the first case, my unwanted kids would have to live with the knowledge that I regret getting them (I truly believe that kids feel that, even if not conscious). I don't want to take that risk, so cheers to a child-free life that I am looking forward to very much.

[@AmandaDucks]

Thank you for sharing this!!! I completely agree with what you're saying - not only is it super insensitive to tell people they'll regret something like that, it's also super irresponsible and honestly probably pressures so many people who don't feel like they should be a parent to do something they aren't fully emotionally equipped to do.

[@mscatherinelong67]

I can’t believe people still say “you’ll regret not having them.” Don’t listen to them. 47 years old, never wanted children. I have some friends with children and some without so it’s fine and I’m not one of those people who wants to be the “fun aunt” either. I’d just prefer to hang out with cats tbh. Not having children needs to be normalised. When I was 32, I went and lived in Paris for a year and took a year off work. It was wonderful but again, it was a big deal to take a leave in absence to travel. My work let me do it so I suppose that’s the important thing.

[@AmandaDucks]

I know right! I find it so insensitive. Thank you so much for sharing this, I really appreciate it 🧡 🧡

[@MaryJoHeadrick]

I’m an attorney in private practice and SO many of the women I work with are specifically child free. Part of it is the difficulty of making partner as a mom (for some reason being a dad doesn’t affect your trajectory but being a mom does) but also I think having the choice to NOT have kids and instead do other things is a more modern approach if that makes sense?

[@AmandaDucks]

Hi Mary! Thank you so much for sharing this. I totally see what you're saying, and agree that even in 2023 there is still a gender bias when it comes to parenting/working 🥲 But yes 100% definitely more and more people these days are feeling comfortable to talk about their choice to not have children!

[@tonisharp8747]

And random question but what does your boyfriend take foe lunches? You work from home and have the luxury of cooking yourself lunch each day but was curious what he ate ? 🤨🥰

[@AmandaDucks]

It varies! Sometimes he will prep lunch for work, other times we make extra dinner and he takes it the next day :) x

[@ridrara87]

I've never had the desire to have kids either and I have felt that from my teen years, and now well into my 30's. Maybe it's a sagg thing haha

[@AmandaDucks]

Hahaha maybe!

[@juchidaf]

I'm 33 years old and I have no idea what I'm doing.

[@judithrussell9162]

Confidence is also a placebo effect, my dear.

[@judithrussell9162]

And I have lived a long and happy life without children. Definitely a valid choice.

[@beatrizneves304Youtube]

Do you refer to 'fake it till you make it' logic?

[@AmandaDucks]

Hahaha good to know 🧡