Tag Archives: childlessness
Not Having Children
(I wrote this essay twenty years ago. I published it here for the first time six years ago. This Mother’s Day, I share it again.) *** I married when I was forty. It was amazing at that age how many people asked me if we were going to have children. No, I’d say, We’re not …
Giving Your Whole Heart
Sometimes… for some of us… Mother’s Day is really hard. Like when we go to a restaurant – just my husband and me – and we get a table right away, because all the other people in line are waiting for a table for four or for six or more. Because all the children grown …
Maybe I Like Sour Grapes
When I was in college, I entered a university-sponsored short story contest. My story was a variation on the old Aesop’s fable “The Grasshopper and The Ant.” By the way, I can still recite several lines from the Jean De La Fontaine poetic version that I was required to recite in high school – I …
Yes, I CAN Judge Your Children
I have no kids. Looking back on it, I see that my childlessness resulted from a combination of circumstances and nature – but also some unfortunate decisions on my part. Or rather, the lack of decision. Sometime inaction turns into a decision in itself. Last year I published an essay that I had written fourteen …
Not Having Children
Note: I wrote this essay fourteen years ago. This Mother’s Day, I find I am ready to share it. NOT HAVING CHILDREN I married when I was forty. It was amazing at that age how many people asked me if we were going to have children. No, I’d say, We’re not having children. What is …
Happy Mother’s Day (Once Removed)
I’ve long had bittersweet feelings for Mother’s Day. On one hand, my mother is my favorite person in the whole world. (Sorry, Hubby, but it’s true.) But the biggest regret of my life is that I never had children. I married late in life and it just never happened. For many years I thought my …
notquiteold 