Below is an overview of Emily’s story. For the full interview please listen to the. podcast above.
Emily's story challenges conventional narratives about motherhood, offering a raw and honest perspective on becoming a parent after years of choosing to be child-free. In a candid interview on the Fence Sitter Podcast, she shares her experience of navigating an unexpected pregnancy at 41 and her journey into motherhood.
A Life Without Children: The Initial Choice
For nearly two decades, Emily had been content with her decision not to have children. Despite societal pressure and the notion of a "biological clock," she never felt the desire for motherhood that many told her would eventually come. By her late 30s, after extensive self-reflection and therapy, she had made peace with her choice to remain child-free.
She focused on building meaningful relationships with children in other ways, such as coaching a kids' mountain bike team and being a pseudo-aunt to friends' children.
The Unexpected Turn
At 41, after going off birth control due to discovering it had been causing long-term allergy symptoms, Emily found herself unexpectedly pregnant. The decision whether to continue the pregnancy wasn't easy. She describes searching for meaning in the timing - coming two years after her father's death and during a period of reflection about family continuity.
Like many, Emily had a difficult experience with pregnancy. She also struggled with feeling excited about it. This lack of excitement led her to isolate herself from others during pregnancy, avoiding the constant congratulations and expectations of joy that felt disconnected from her reality. However, this honesty about her feelings created unexpected connections, as others shared their own complex experiences with pregnancy and parenthood.
The Fence Sitter podcast continues to bring you authentic conversations with real individuals who were unsure about having kids and finally made their choice— one way or another. These podcast episodes are available for paid subscribers only.
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