Choosing to live kid-free is not always cut and dry, and it’s an easier choice for some people than it is for others. I think the spectrum of ease ranges from “I never wanted kids, next” to an agonizing, consuming, multi-dimensional, existential struggle that may temporarily subside, but never really ends. And for others, there is no choice, and they must accept living kid-free regardless of how they may feel about it.

I honestly don’t think we can talk about The Choice without having a conversation about fear, which is probably the most visceral and powerful human emotion. When entertaining the idea of a kid-free life, fear is everywhere, lurking in many forms.