"If I had a child today, I'm sure I would love her more than I can comprehend. But I'm also pretty sure I wouldn't love my life. I'm lucky. I have an extraordinarily satisfying life as a writer. My career is not just a career but an expression of the very things that define and nourish my existence. I could probably find a way to balance it all with the joy of motherhood but, to be honest, I don't want to. That's not an equilibrium I'm interested in finding. I love the spare, quiet rooms of my grown-up house. I love teaching and traveling and having long conversations with people I've never met and may never meet again. I love the idea of contributing to young people's lives without being anyone's mother, of feeding their souls in ways that mothers, by definition, cannot. And while it's entirely possible that I don't know what I'm talking about (this also applies to bungee jumping), I can't think of anything more unfair than having a child for the sole purpose of finding out what I'm missing."
A rather insightful look at the choice to be free. I think it touches on nuances most people miss, such as the difference between loving one's child and loving one's life.
Technorati Tag: childfree
