Women Without Children — Mary Brown

Like most of us, they had heard and even given the congratulatory response almost expected when one delivers the news that she is expecting a baby. Rarely had they considered the idea of delivering, “Why?” in response to someone's excitation in delivering the words, “I'm having a baby!” What then, was the logic behind the whys they received when delivering the news to family, friends, and even complete strangers, that not only were they not expecting a baby, but they did not have children and they did not intend on ever having children. Liz, Diana, and Katie are three women living very different lives in three different parts of the country yet, unbeknownst to them, they share one very common thread; the same decision to live a life without children. Though each has made this conscious decision, each has come to her own conclusion for very unique, personal reasons of her own…consciously or subconsciously. The societal pressures to conform to what has been deemed the “norm” during their child-bearing years sometimes weighs heavily on their hearts, minds and souls causing them to question their common choice and perhaps even crater under the heft of the spoken and unspoken expectations of the world around them. Will each of these women stand strong with her decision? Will they waiver? And in the end, will they all in fact remain, women without children?