MORE FROM HUFFPOST
MORE FROM HUFFPOST
childfree by choice
As age-related health issues make it tougher to get around and stay independent, most seniors at some point will rely on a family member for help. Usually, one or more adult children will step in to provide or arrange for care when that day comes.
An innocent conversation starter can effectively ruin a woman's whole day. Asking a stranger whether she has given birth to a child or has the intention to do so, can hit a raw nerve. It is a commonly asked question, but the conversation almost never stops there.
No matter how they arrived at having no children, women at this conference talked openly and honestly about the "Not Mom" aspect of their lives. They listened to many stories and life accounts that connected them as women who will never become mothers.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WHAT'S HAPPENING
It's better to know what you want and stand firm in your truth than to bend your desires and be unhappy in your life. Keep your chin up. Keep fighting for your dreams. And know that, no matter what, you're not alone.
I had lunch recently with a new friend. In the midst of our 'getting to know you' questions, I asked if she had kids. She responded 'no.' The moment was uncomfortable. I felt awkward for asking. We moved on to another topic. This discomfort stayed with me.
In the last 15 years, we have seen a number of media waves on this topic. In the big picture, we've seen an ascent of talk about this in the public sphere since the 70s. That's over four decades. Where are we after 40+ years of talking about the childfree choice? Let's start with a quick broad stroke look back in time.
I'll admit it. Now that I have kids and am knee-deep in parenting, I forget that not everybody cares about my kids as much as I do. Not everybody wants kids, and that is a perfectly valid decision. For those of us who have forgotten how the other side lives, childfree Redditors have some important insight to share.
