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The Blessings of Being Child-free
Lessons learned from my friends who are mothers
I used to feel ambivalent about being child free. I had always assumed that, at some point, I’d have children. But that didn’t happen.
First there was economic reality. When I first got married, we still had student loan debt to pay off. Then he was starting a new job and we moved. Then I got cancer.
The cancer was really the big one. It was a really aggressive variety, and though I am in remission and doing well, still, there is always the chance it will come back. Would it be fair to bring a child into the world, knowing that there is a far greater chance the child will lose its mother young?
I thought that was the right decision.
That didn’t mean it wasn’t hard. Babies are adorable. And I love interacting with children.
Or I thought I did.
The last few years have taught me that, maybe, its been better for me that I’m child free.
You see, several of my friends have young children. And I’ve been teaching art classes to children.
What I have always known — children love me, and I love them. When I teach my art classes, when they see me, their eyes light up. They are happy to be with me. And I am happy to be with them.
