Birthing Children Isn’t the Only Path to Becoming a Mother

Photo: Courtesy of Mater Mea

This post is a part of a special series Mom/Me: An exploration of motherhood and beyond. This collection of poetry, essays, and visual media showcase the many facets of motherhood and our relationship to it. In partnership with Mater Mea.

by Lelita Cannon

People annoyingly speculate on the reasons I choose not to have children. Frankly, what I do (or don’t do) with my reproductive organs is really none of their business, but motherhood is simply not for me. I enjoy the ability to do what I please on a whim. I like giving the kids back. I sleep more peacefully knowing I have one mouth to feed—mine—and that I solely have to be concerned with keeping a roof over only my head. I don’t have to agonize over keeping another human alive. That alone must add years to one’s life. If my mom doesn’t hear from me for a few days, she’s practically putting together a national search party to hunt me down. (If I was 14, cool, but I’m nearly 40.) I admire her love and devotion to me, but I want no parts of that anxiety.

Nevertheless, the absence of biological children in my life doesn’t preclude me from having motherly instincts. My maternal energy often emanates in the way I uplift the girls and women in my life, and those outside of it.

Read the full post on Mater Mea.