Can Mothers, Childless Women, and Childfree Women Be Friends?

Ultimately we are all on a quest to feel understood

It seems no matter what role a woman takes on, she is likely to endure times of feeling isolated, unsupported, and lonely.

While I can only speak from the lived experience of being childfree by choice, I think it is important to draw attention to the complexities and difficulties of the different paths.

How can parents be more supportive of their friends who aren’t parents?

How can people without children show up for their parent friends? How can society demonstrate deeper compassion for the disenfranchised grief the childless often feel, and how can our culture express acceptance and respect for those who choose not to have children?

Phew, it all sounds very complicated. It needn’t be so complex, yet ask anyone within these demographics, and they will likely tell you they crave deeper connections and inclusion.

In the last few weeks, there have been several pieces in the media about women not having children, including this article in the Guardian titled The Chasm Between Mothers an…