I am not entirely sure of the point of this article. Is it to say: hey, women who are ambivalent/not interested/against having a baby, change your mind based on my personal experience? That's how it reads. And while perhaps the nostalgia presented here is very familiar to mothers, as someone who doesn't have kids it reads a bit patronising. Like I don't know my own mind or my own choices, or perhaps that the very real barriers I might have to having a baby (financial, lack of partner, fertility) are somehow non-existent? I guess what I'm saying here is as a non-parent this article doesn't feel like it is relatable at all to me.
I don't discount your personal opinion here Hayley, but (as a parent) this was intensely relatable.
Oh and also funny.
I'm often asked what parenthood is like, usually by younger friends and peers, who are trying to make decisions about what they might want in life. This book excerpt captures my complex, nuanced and mixed experiences pretty accurately. I'll be sharing it.
Bridie: Thank you for sharing. I'm adding the book to my ever growing list of things to read.
I am not entirely sure of the point of this article. Is it to say: hey, women who are ambivalent/not interested/against having a baby, change your mind based on my personal experience? That's how it reads. And while perhaps the nostalgia presented here is very familiar to mothers, as someone who doesn't have kids it reads a bit patronising. Like I don't know my own mind or my own choices, or perhaps that the very real barriers I might have to having a baby (financial, lack of partner, fertility) are somehow non-existent? I guess what I'm saying here is as a non-parent this article doesn't feel like it is relatable at all to me.
I don't discount your personal opinion here Hayley, but (as a parent) this was intensely relatable.
Oh and also funny.
I'm often asked what parenthood is like, usually by younger friends and peers, who are trying to make decisions about what they might want in life. This book excerpt captures my complex, nuanced and mixed experiences pretty accurately. I'll be sharing it.
Bridie: Thank you for sharing. I'm adding the book to my ever growing list of things to read.