Infertility and Othering: When You Don’t Belong

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly thought, “I’m the only one here without kids”? That sinking feeling in your body is what is known as othering. Othering happens when you are seen, or you see yourself, as separate because you do not fit a societal mold.

If you are childless after infertility or your IVF journey ended without the child you dreamed of, you know how often othering can happen. You get left out of conversations, your life experiences are dismissed, or someone makes a comment that forces you to explain why you do not have children. But here is something you might not have considered. You may be keeping yourself in that “other” role without even realizing it.

In this episode, you will discover how you might be self-othering and how to shift the way you show up so you feel more connected and less defined by childlessness. I share why this topic is so personal to me after my own seven-year journey through IVF failed and ended without a child. You will learn the exact mindset shift that helped me stop letting “childless” be my headline and start introducing myself in ways that made me feel confident and part of the room.

You will learn how to:

• Recognize when you are self-othering without realizing it

• Stop letting childlessness become your whole identity

• Walk into social settings feeling prepared to lead the conversation with who you are beyond motherhood

• Use simple questions to connect with friends, family, and colleagues without the focus being on parenting

• See yourself as more than the one without kids so others can too

I also share a Thrive After Infertility client story that shows how one small change in how you show up can completely change how you are seen and how you feel in social situations.

If you have been feeling disconnected, overlooked, or like you will never belong in rooms where most people are parents, this episode will help you step out of the “other” box, create your own sense of belonging, and feel empowered in any setting.

Links from this episode

Free Class: Things People Say When You’re Childless (and How to Respond) Learn practical ways to handle comments without shutting down or feeling small. Register here!

Thrive After Infertility: 12 Week Coaching Program Work with me to create a life you love even without the children you dreamed of  Learn more here

Book Your Free 45 Minute Thrive Call HERE! In this call, you and I will create a plan for how you can start thriving and loving your life after infertility. Book your call

Follow me on Instagram @lana.manikowski

If you are ready to stop letting childlessness define your story and start living in a way that reflects all of who you are, press play on this episode now.