In 2010, New York Magazine writer Jennifer Senior’s feature article, “All Joy and No Fun: Why Parents Hate Parenting” created quite the buzz. Now hot off the press is her book, All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood. In her recent interview with NPR’s Terri Gross, she talks about how our society came to idolize its children.
Tag: parental challenges
The Parenthood Decision: Two Books Standing the Test of Time
The LiveTrue book collection comprises some of the best nonfiction books that relate to living a life that’s true to oneself, others and our world. One big area of living true involves the biggest decision we will make – whether to become parents. There are a good number of books out there that help people make the best decision for themselves in this regard, but there are two that continue to stand the test of time. Continue reading “The Parenthood Decision: Two Books Standing the Test of Time”
New National Science Foundation Rules Include the Childfree?
First Lady Michelle Obama recently spoke to the new rules put out by the National Science Foundation that are designed to make it easier for scientists – “especially women – to balance work and family.”
Continue reading “New National Science Foundation Rules Include the Childfree?”
Kids on flights: 5 tips to avoid and 5 tips for parents
Reading Corrine McDermott’s “5 Tips to Avoid Flying With Kids” had me shaking my head.
It got me thinking about tips that focus on the parents—ways they can show consideration and respect for their fellow passengers. First, Ms. McDermott’s 5 tips, and then 5 of mine: Continue reading “Kids on flights: 5 tips to avoid and 5 tips for parents”
Getting Real About Regret
As the childfree know, we can often get flack from parents who are convinced we will eventually regret our decision not to have kids. In talking with thousands of childfree in the last 10+ years, I can say that… Continue reading “Getting Real About Regret”
Teens and the Pursuit of Fame Through Pregnancy
An unsettling segment called “Mothers of Unplanned Consequences” was recently on abc.
The media is doing quite a pronatalist number on young women, and the young moms are the ones who end up paying quite the price.
Continue reading “Teens and the Pursuit of Fame Through Pregnancy”
Book Review: The Slap
I’m always on the look out for books with characters with no children by choice, not just for their childfree status, but more how their characters contribute to the story.
One of this blog’s childfree-related article sleuths was kind enough to write a review on a provocative book she recently read that fits this childfree character bill. The book is called The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas, and here’s what she thought: Continue reading “Book Review: The Slap”
A Psychological Phenom for Happy Parents..and the Childfree?
Wray Herbert, author of On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind’s Hard-Wired Habits, has an interesting explanation why even though “study after study has shown that parents, compared to adults without kids experience lower emotional well-being, have unhappier marriages and suffer more from depression, that they insist that..a life without children is a life unfulfilled.” The phenom at work? Continue reading “A Psychological Phenom for Happy Parents..and the Childfree?”
Disadvantages of Being Childfree
Childfree Piper Hoffman has a thought-provoking post. While she sees the many “pros” of not having kids, she writes a forthcoming piece about some of the “cons” she feels…
Childfree-Parent Friendships During the Holidays
Childfree-parent friendships can have their challenges, but this time of year can bring special kinds of challenges. Obviously, the childfree don’t do the Santa thing with their kids, but the parents do. There can be expectations of gifts and attending parties with kids. Or the reverse—the fact that we don’t have kids means parents assume we don’t want to be in on the Santa thing or party loop.
There are ways to help keep childfree-parent friendships strong at any time of year; let’s take a crack at applying some of them to holiday time… Continue reading “Childfree-Parent Friendships During the Holidays”
