In the conversation, Keltie is joined by writer and author, Heidi Reimer, to discuss the complexities and ambivalence of motherhood, and Heidi's unique journey to becoming a mom. You'll hear them discuss:

• Heidi's novel, The Mother Act, and how it allowed her to explore her darkest fantasies about abandoning motherhood (2:30)
• How Heidi's conservative Christian upbringing influenced her views on womanhood and motherhood (11:20)
• How Heidi went from never wanting kids to adopting a child and becoming pregnant at the same time (22:15)
• Why motherhood - and especially early motherhood - felt like a trap, and how she feels today, now that her children are nearly grown (41:50)
• The importance of discussing and sharing honestly about motherhood - rather than romanticizing it (57:40)

As mentioned in the show:

Heidi is online at www.heidireimer.com

Read Heidi's book, The Mother Act

Find Heidi on Instagram at instagram.com/heidi.c.reimer

Her substack is heidireimer.substack.com About Heidi: Heidi Reimer is an essayist, novelist, writing coach, and the author of The Mother Act. Her writing interrogates the lives of women, usually those bent on breaking free of what they're given to create what they yearn for. Heidi has published in Chatelaine, The New Quarterly, Literary Mama, and the anthologies The M Word: Conversations About Motherhood and Body & Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seekers. She is from Northern Ontario, Canada, and currently writes in a small town on the St. Lawrence River. __ Book your Clarity Booster here: kidsorchildfree.com/claritybooster Check out our free resources here, or at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you're hearing! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or a rating on Spotify. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree