25 years ago today (!), while licking the wounds (physical, mental, emotional) inflicted by five-ish years of trying and failing to conceive a baby -- including three years of unsuccessful fertility treatments plus a stillbirth at 26 weeks -- I took my first concrete step toward acceptance of the new reality I found myself facing: I posted my story on the Childless Living message board on a now-defunct site called iVillage. (I've been sharing my story here on this blog since fall 2007 -- coming up to 19 years now!)
I started writing a "25 years later/things I've learned about life without children" post -- and then I realized I was repeating myself: I already wrote many of the same things five years ago, in a post titled "20 years of childless living." Have a read there!
There is life (and joy) without children. Not better, not worse than being a parent. Just different.
Thank you all for being part of my journey so far on this road less travelled!
What lessons/advice from your own childless living experiences would you add?
Thank you for sharing and contiuning to share your life. Your blog and few others have been a big gift to me while in the midst of trying to have a baby years. The reality there is livable life and good life if it doesnt work out heloed me way more than all the miracle stories and perservance stories and "don't lose hope" stories.
ReplyDeleteNow I am going to your 20 year anniversary post and see am I repeating myself.