tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post1520254310756360218..comments2024-03-26T08:06:19.661-04:00Comments on The Road Less Travelled: The TIME article: What's wrong with this picture? loribethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-80083388140747954382013-08-29T06:07:13.455-04:002013-08-29T06:07:13.455-04:00Really interesting post. Thought provoking and we...Really interesting post. Thought provoking and well put together. It brought to my attention so many of the issues that I have faced, and am about to face as I look at the prospect of having to live child free after years of fertility treatments.Annie Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13511943107737624183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-29952891193065722842013-08-26T14:57:28.022-04:002013-08-26T14:57:28.022-04:00Loribeth, thank you for putting together this over...Loribeth, thank you for putting together this overview of what people are saying about the Time article. I took the chicken way out and didn't say anything in my Childless by Marriage blog. Thank you so much for mentioning the fact that it's often a case of men deciding before or after the marriage that they're not up for fatherhood. And Mali, yes, I was childfree at 25, too. Not even ready to think about it. Let's ask some people who are old enough to know what it's really like. <br />At least people are talking about it. But we need folks to understand we're not all child"free".Sue Fagalde Lickhttp://www.childlessbymarriage.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-72462961901273730542013-08-26T13:49:13.151-04:002013-08-26T13:49:13.151-04:00I read the article and was pretty pleased with it....I read the article and was pretty pleased with it. The thing is, I've been working very hard to become childfree rather than childless. While I don't get to run off to sunny beaches I do feel freedom in not having kids even if it wasn't originally "by choice." I made the decision to be happy with my lot. There are times that isn't possible but there are other times where I hear a kid screaming at a restaurant, my husband and I give each other that knowing look and later one of us will inevitably say, "Thank god we don't have to deal with that little monster." I realize we are trying to make light of a crappy situation but I'm pleased with be able to get a voice for people without kids. The author references an article from TIME on breastfeeding that started a movement. I have no doubt this will do the same and in that line of thinking I hope to see an article in TIME next year talking about being Childless-Not-By-Choice. It's only a matter of time before we have center stage. But yes, it is frustrating to not yet feel like our group of people is recognized. We really ought to be more thought of when people talk about fertility.Rae-babehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18308094285119998058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-5716462718561863092013-08-25T11:32:47.025-04:002013-08-25T11:32:47.025-04:00Curse you Loribeth! I've spent the afternoon ...Curse you Loribeth! I've spent the afternoon following your links, then following links from the links, etc etc etc. lol But thanks for summing up the conversation. I needed that to focus on it!<br /><br />So, I still don't know what I think. I didn't read the entire article (refuse to subscribe), but read many of the follow-ups. I wish that articles didn't focus always on childless/free people in their 20s and 30s, but talked to the majority in their 50s and 60s, to get a much more realistic look at what a childfree/no kids life is like. (I guess I'm always amused at 25 year olds declaring they are childfree. I was too, at 25!) <br /><br />Like you, I dislike the "lying on the beach" stereotype. Even though I often fit that stereotype (especially now). Because again, referencing two weeks out of the year (this year excepted of course) when we might lie on a beach, does not deal with what our lives are like the other 50 weeks of the year. It's simply lazy reporting - there to attract attention ... and perhaps, judgement.<br /><br />And yes, the fact that all the judgement rests on women, not men (rarely anyway), is yet another reflection of our societies' insistence that "real women" have children. I'm glad that this was pointed out in the follow up articles.Malihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03928262526502319303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-64030093106304885902013-08-25T10:53:09.920-04:002013-08-25T10:53:09.920-04:00Personally, I think that's an excellent answer...Personally, I think that's an excellent answer. ;) I find I never tend to think of a snappy answer to insensitive personal questions until much later. ;) I will think about it. loribethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-15798642447345553962013-08-24T22:38:07.281-04:002013-08-24T22:38:07.281-04:00I came across your blog in my search for a brief d...I came across your blog in my search for a brief diplomatic response that can be used when confronted with the insensitive question "Do you regret choosing to be childless?" My best attempt is "People don't necessarily choose to be childless." Any other suggestions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com