By Kathleen Guthrie Woods
“Why don’t you like children?” “What are you waiting for?” “It’s not too late. I heard about a woman who was 46 and….”
I’ve heard so many variations on a theme, but this is the first time I’ve heard “Thank you” for choosing not to have children, with a long list of positive reasons.
Writer Abby Rosmarin works in childcare and has this to say about women who choose to be childfree (her post is published on Thought Catalog). I especially like and am encouraged by her line, “…you recognize that there are so many other ways to find love and meaning and joy in your life.”
This isn’t for everyone. But for those of us who made a choice—and for those of us who ultimately made a choice to stop the madness—I offer her kind perspective.
Kathleen Guthrie Woods is a Northern California–based freelance writer. She is mostly at peace with being childfree.
I love that quote, thank you! I wrote a little bit about this idea in my post “Never a Consolation Prize” http://jlbf4.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/never-a-consolation-prize-my-first-piano-recital/
Thank you again, Justine
I read this a few days ago and it has stayed with me. I have some disquiet about the article, but I’m still struggling to put my finger on why. I may post about it.
Mali, if you do, share the link so it can be part of the discussion. xo
I have posted, writing a version of the article I would have liked to have seen.
Here’s the link:
http://nokiddinginnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/thanking-no-kidding-women.html
I get where the author is coming from. My sister is childfree by choice… and I remember someone once asking me how I felt about that, given that I wanted children and can’t have any. I would have loved to have been an auntie, of course. But it’s quite obvious to me that she would NOT have been happy being a mother — and how fair would that be to a child?
I respect my sister (and others I know) who know themselves well enough to resist the societal pressure and stick to their guns.
That said, I also appreciate Mali’s perspective, and I love her thank you list! 🙂
BRAVA to Mali on her response!
Read it at http://nokiddinginnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/thanking-no-kidding-women.html.