Choice, Vanessa. It really does boil down to choice. You don't need to justify why you chose not to have children--even if society expects you to do that. The fact is that some of us--maybe not a lot--chose not to have children because we knew that we were NOT meant to be parents. I often joke that all the children I never had are very thankful! So yes, I had the ability to choose not to be a parent; I wish that choice were respected by more people, but I know that it was the right choice for ME. And that's why I fight so hard to ensure that everyone, all women, have the choice to HAVE or NOT to have a child or children. Whenever they need to make that choice. Wherever they are on their journey. It is their choice, and not one they need to defend.
Evelyn - thank you as always! I wrote this more as an explaining story now about how I've had choices... and how many women won't, now? I appreciate your support, though. For years I did end up defending those choices. Yet isn't that what we should be able to have? Thank you for telling about your choice too. I like that. -Vanessa
Choice, Vanessa. It really does boil down to choice. You don't need to justify why you chose not to have children--even if society expects you to do that. The fact is that some of us--maybe not a lot--chose not to have children because we knew that we were NOT meant to be parents. I often joke that all the children I never had are very thankful! So yes, I had the ability to choose not to be a parent; I wish that choice were respected by more people, but I know that it was the right choice for ME. And that's why I fight so hard to ensure that everyone, all women, have the choice to HAVE or NOT to have a child or children. Whenever they need to make that choice. Wherever they are on their journey. It is their choice, and not one they need to defend.
Evelyn - thank you as always! I wrote this more as an explaining story now about how I've had choices... and how many women won't, now? I appreciate your support, though. For years I did end up defending those choices. Yet isn't that what we should be able to have? Thank you for telling about your choice too. I like that. -Vanessa