You Never Know True Love Until You Have A Child
“You never know true love until you have a child.” The woman glanced back over at me, peering up through heavy-lidded eyes, drugged in an oxytocin fug. Her blissful state as she gently rocked her tightly-swaddled newborn back and forth in her lap was at odds with the searing words rolling off her tongue, burning […]
Your Number’s Up!
Do you ever lie awake at night feeling stuck, or anxious? Like you can’t – or won’t – achieve something? That everyone else seems to be playing this crazy board game called Life so much better than you are? Like you’ve started playing the game, only to discover that there are vital pieces missing? That […]
Celebrating Mums (And Non-Mums) On Mother’s Day
For those women who, like myself, are childless not by choice (CNBC), Mother’s Day brings a mixture of feelings: love and appreciation for our own mothers (and mothers everywhere), and sadness that we will never experience motherhood ourselves. If you are a mum, I hope this Sunday brings you all the treats that you deserve, […]
My Interview For ‘Walk In Our Shoes’
I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Berenice Smith for Walk In Our Shoes: a website supporting men and women who are childless not by choice (CNBC), their families, friends and colleagues through real-life stories and accounts of life after loss. Walking Forward Inspirational Network is an informal group, supporting anyone who is an […]
The Four-letter Word that Changes Everything
It’s not the one you’re thinking of, or any from the typical arsenal of word-weapons – the ones we humans launch at one another in moments of anger, when the red mist descends and none of the others are quite hitting their target. No, the four-letter word that insulted me recently was one that is […]
Minority Report: Them and (a much smaller) ‘Us’
When you think of a minority group, who do you think of? Those who are discriminated against because of their ethnicity, disability, religion or sexual orientation? So not me, then: a straight, white, working-class, able-bodied woman? If you see me walking down the street, dressed up to the nines to meet my friends for a […]
Mum’s Not The Word
Recently, thanks to the mind-boggling magic of social media, a talented photographer called Denise Felkin came onto my radar. She was searching for childless women for a piece she’s working on: a photographic compilation of Non-Mums entitled Mum’s Not The Word. Incidentally, I was searching for women without kids for my Non-Mum Network, a Facebook group for […]
I’m a guest on Mike’s Open Journal Podcast
G’Day Non-Mums! How are you all on this dull February morning?Now, those of you who know me personally and not just via the blog will already know that I’m something of a motormouth. I have a tendency towards being pretty full on: turbo-charged and as nutty as a tray of Ferrero’s at the Ambassador’s Reception. Some […]
Behind The Smile….by Anon (A Non-Mother, that is)
There are two halves to most women’s lives, clearly divided: BC (Before Children) and AD (After Delivery). As was the case with Jesus (should you be religiously inclined), welcoming a child into your life causes time to start all over again. Such is the significance. For most, as soon as that second faint blue line […]
Let It Go
When the long-awaited day finally comes for you to stand before your beaming congregation of family and friends, feeling lighter than air, wearing the most expensive dress you’ll ever own and full of hope and optimism for the future, it’s easy to repeat those solemn vows. The hard part, as I was to discover, is […]