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As I mentioned in my 2017 year in review post, I published 138 posts last year. In addition to posts about childless/free issues, I tried to do a "Right now" or "The Current" post every month or so, and participated in 44 #MicroblogMondays. I reviewed all of the 17 books I read in 2017, and wrote about news items (usually ALI-related) that piqued my interest. I also wrote a lot about what was going on my life, some of which touched on aspects of ALI/childless/free living and some that didn't, including aging, (peri)menopause (and Aunt Flo's continuing appearances!), retirement and life in a condo.
Here are a few of my favourite 2017 posts:
- "Emotional labour" and childless women -- Making the case that "emotional labour" is not only something that women do more than men, but that infertile/childless women are uniquely saddled with in their relationships with parents.
- The stigma of a childless/free life -- We really aren't imagining it!!
- "He needs a cousin" -- Just when you thought the pressure to have kids was over, people start telling you that you need to get a dog...!
- What helped? What didn't? -- Personality traits that helped (and didn't help) me survive infertility & loss, and the transition to permanent childless/free living.
- #MicroblogMondays: "The Handmaid's Tale" season finale -- Reflections on the finale of the TV adaptation of Atwood's novel (one of several posts I wrote about it).
- It takes a village -- Building your personal village when you don't have kids.
- "Samantha's Secret Room" by Lyn Cook -- I got to share a favourite book from my childhood with another little girl.
- #MicroblogMondays: "You really need a daughter..." -- An "ouch" moment during an all-girls outing to a local bakery cafe.
- "Some people get what they want and some don't" -- A book reminds me of a key life lesson.
- #MicroblogMondays: "The Misery Filter" -- How hardship makes us more resilient.
- #MicroblogMondays: "Let's open up" -- The case for being open & honest about the difficult things in our lives.
- Struggling -- The November blues descend as I ponder my place in the world as a retired, childless 50-something woman.
- "I woke up so sad this morning" -- Remembering the late David Cassidy, my first big teen idol crush.
- Please, put yourself in the picture! -- A plea for all women, and especially those of us without kids, to include ourselves in photos more often.
And in a nod to my 10th (!) blogoversary:
First, thanks for reminding me to do this! lol I'm going to go back and write one now.
ReplyDeleteI love the opportunity to check if I missed any posts, and just read you again.
I’m so impressed you do this. I’m not that organized and miss Mel’s Creme de la Creme list as it got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteYour “what helped and what didn’t post” was very useful information that I’ve been passing on to others. Also your “It takes a village” post.