By Sophia Bui
Grow up. Get a job. Get married. Have kids. A list of tasks forced upon young adults since the olden times. But why should someone else’s expectations decide the trajectory of your life?
DINK, standing for Dual Income No Kids, is a lifestyle for employed young adults living together. As recently as 2025, Harris Poll surveys indicate that DINKS make up just 5% of the population. However, amongst the 5%, household incomes exceeding $100,000 have reached about 61%, outpacing the overall share of Americans.
Ashley Houlette, or Madame Houlette, a beloved French teacher of Fountain Valley High School, advocates for young adults to freely live the DINK life without letting societal norms absorb them.
Married in 2015, Houlette and her partner mutually decided not to have kids. Houlette expressed that it had been a thought-out and well-reasoned decision.
“Primarily, we felt that we were really fulfilled just having a small family. And you know, parenthood comes with a lot of challenges, both financial, emotional and physical. And I think we both felt that we were fulfilled on our own and better off just, you know, just the two of us,” Houlette said.
Both parties bring in an income, allowing them to spend their finances on their own necessities as well as fulfillment. Choosing to do things on their own time and choice, having no kids has made it easier for Houlette and her partner to afford expenses such as housing and travel, all while adding to their savings. In fact, only 23% of DINKS have been recorded to stress over a lack of income, while 46% of parents do.
As expected, the people who’d developed and supported that task list will always be around to spectate, and maybe attempt to dictate. Having made their decisions clear, Houlette and her husband. often face backlash or offensive questioning from certain people around them.
“The biggest challenge is, like, older in-laws who, like, really want grandchildren. It’s not that they’re unsupportive. It’s just that, like they have the most to say about it,” Houlette said.
Houlette and her husband face societal challenges every now and then from the people around them. However, they know that their life is up to their decisions and won’t let the words affect them.
“I just listen, because it’s not ultimately, you know, my big life choices are up to me, and so, you know, if I think if other people have issues with my choices, it says more about themselves,” Houlette said.
The couple advises other young adults with a long journey ahead to do the same.
“Live your life by your own standards, personal goals and priorities. Success is defined in a lot of ways, and if you want to be content in your life, it’s important to stay true to your authentic self,” Houlette said.
It’s easy to say it, to tell yourself it’s the rules to go by. But when others’ opinions get involved, some people might have a hard time continuing without disturbance.
With this, Houlette recommends the maintenance of a specific mindset.
“The people whose opinion matters are the ones who support you and love you for who you really are,” Houlette said. Make your own list, deadlines and goals for the future. You are the director of the play that is your own life; therefore, you shouldn’t let anyone else change the script.
