I can’t honestly say I’ve ever felt invisible as a CF woman. Disrespected, perhaps (“What made you not want kids?” as if the default setting is wanting them). But then, I really didn’t think about children until I got married, and I was 32 when I did that, so I didn’t even start down the road until far after most people have kids or know they don’t want them.
Actually, it’s not like I ever wanted them. They just seemed like one of those things that would probably happen someday, and if I closed my eyes and held my breath for 18 years, I’d survive the misery and get my life back. When people would tell me I should have a child, I’d jokingly say, “Yeah, but after getting pregnant and giving birth to it, they’d make me keep it!” So, looking back, I suppose I was always childfree, I just hadn’t recognized the fact until I was married and approaching my mid-30s and a final decision really needed to be made. The prison sentence of motherhood? Or the life I truly preferred and wanted?
Well, since I’m posting here, you can see what I chose.
I got married late-ish too; my husband and I were 31. And again, I always knew I didn’t want kids, it just took awhile before people started actually believing me. Now that my husband and I are approaching 40, friends and relatives are finally starting to get that idea that we just might mean it when we say we’re not having kids, ever.
Comment by Angry Grrl — November 16, 2007 @ 3:49 am