Milk Drunk: What to Expect When You're Not Expecting

Excerpt Chapter 9 - The Last Trimester

With this chapter, I tie a bow on this unwrapped present. Summarizing the need to authentically be yourself, humbly accepting life as a gift, allowing yourself grace to choose for yourself, and proudly saluting your decisions. Below is a small excerpt from Milk Drunk: What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting Chapter 9 The Last Trimester.

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The decision to have children is a choice as unique as the person making it. Unfortunately, too many people feel at liberty to impose their beliefs onto others. It is important to base your life decisions on your own values and morals, especially something as personal as having children. Those moments are too intimate, and a dictated expectation might not fit your reality.

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The decision not to have a child is a difficult one. The mental seesaw someone goes through when contemplating this choice is extremely complicated. Even though it might seem effortless from my journey to make this decision, I must emphasize that pressure and discussions weigh heavy on the mind. You can be the most independent and confident person, but with a judging and influential world surrounding you, even the most assured person reflects a mirror with two faces. There are constant reminders of accepted societal norms that stare directly at you while you purposefully stare back defying them. Your character is being tested and always on full display. When it comes to a child-free decision, you must mentally battle the questions cultivated for your life choice and determine your daily approach:

Must I be on defense all the time?

Do I have to explain myself every time?

Will this judgement last my whole life?

What did I give up?

Am I enough?

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I am extremely appreciative and fortunate for the gift of life, my ability to choose for myself, and pure authenticity. Humbly I applaud myself for the courageous decision to not have a child. For those of you like me, give yourself a round of applause as well. Those who have children, I am providing you all a standing ovation! You see, it is not a woman’s duty to give birth, but it can be their calling or desire. A person can be established with or without a child because success comes in all forms.