BEYOND MOTHERHOOD:CHOOSING A LIFE WITHOUT CHILDREN : Life with a Difficult or Damaged Sibling

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Summary: Try to get a copy of this book...
Review: ...it's the best I have ever read about deciding whether or not you want children. Jeanne Safer presents the issues head-on, in a warm yet practical, non-sentimental way: how much do you need time alone? how conflicted was/is your relationship with your own parents? does your partner want children? are you afraid you'll be alone in old age? how much are you able to give to another person? what are the realities of your career/chosen path in life? how much do you value your intimacy with your partner? Safer supplements a thorough discussion of these and other issues with case studies of numerous women's lives. Other books on the subject offer stories, poems, essays. However, I've found that these don't help much when you're not sure what motherhood is REALLY like. Safer gives you the nuts and bolts, compassionately.

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Summary: Choice made long ago
Review: As a woman who made the choice at a young age NOT to have children, it was great to find a book that supported and explored that option. Bravo!

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Summary: Putting things in Perspective
Review: If you are fighting internally over the issue about whether or not you really want to have children and be a mother -- this is a good book to read. I thought for a couple of years that I don't want to have children. However, after reading this book - I realized that while I have compassion toward women who choose not to bear children, I do not identify with them. I learned that I could not relate to the feelings and experiences described in this book. Ms. Safer states that she never wanted to play with dolls or "be the mommy" when she was young. I thought every girl did that. I went deep inside myself and learned that my issues about child-rearing are purely fear-based. I'm afraid of not being able to provide for them. I learned that I will provide for my future children, no matter what it takes. The same night I read this book, I had a dream that I had a child and I lost her (it was a little girl in my dream). I think that dream was telling me that I do want to be a Mom. One day. After reading the book, all sorts of mommy feelings that I had been suppressing because of fear came out. I do yearn to have children. I was just afraid. I will be afraid in the future, too. But, for me that is no reason to not have children. If your decision is not to have children, I think that should be acknowledged and respected. But, if you truly love children and desire children of your own, don't miss out on the life experience because of fear. Good Luck in your choice!

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Summary: The Best Voluntary Childfree Book for me
Review: This book was transleted in Brasil with de title "Além da Maternidade - Optando por uma vida sem Filhos". I'm psychologist and I've been recomended for students and friends.

Rating:
Summary: Putting things in Perspective
Review: This book was transleted in Brasil with de title "Além da Maternidade - Optando por uma vida sem Filhos". I'm psychologist and I've been recomended for students and friends.

Rating:
Summary: The best Voluntary Childfree Book for me
Review: This book was transleted in Brazil, with de title "Além da Maternidade - Opção de uma vida sem filhos". I'm a psychologist, and I've been recomended this important book for all my students and childfree friends. So, I am so gracefull to Jaene Safer, because I'm childfree since I was childhood. Thanks Safer a lot!