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LIFE
Protecting My Peace As a Childfree Woman
There is no right or wrong way, it's ‘your’ way!
Life comes with its own set of relatives and friends. We all need to handle them the best way we can.
Sometimes, though, they get too nosy and start asking questions or offering advice that no one asked for or even needed.
If you’re Indian, you probably know how this feels. The moment you try to protect your peace, a dozen others feel it’s their birthright to interfere in your personal life.
Being childfree is one of the most harrowing situations to explain. The relatives can’t make sense of it themselves, so naturally, they turn to us, the ones who are living it. They have no idea that being childfree can be a conscious, valid choice. So they assume that no one should be without kids. That’s the default for them.
When my husband and I were planning for a child, the suggestions started pouring in. People bombarded us with names of doctors who “guaranteed” results. Some random, distant relative’s cousin apparently had a miracle baby right after visiting “their” best doctor.
We were also continuously hammered with all these temples and holy places to visit, where we should worship, where we…
