It is so exciting! Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent is available from 9 May. As I've mentioned before (here), I have an essay in the book, and can't wait to read all the other essays. I'm sure to find a lot of food for thought in the perspectives of others who are Not Kidding in New Zealand. No doubt there will be a lot of blog posts as a result too! I'm eagerly awaiting for my copy to arrive in the mail.
It was also exciting to hear a review of it here on Radio New Zealand this afternoon. A positive one, too! You can find the brief but interesting discussion from 08:43 minutes into the recording. Also, it was interesting to hear the announcer mentioning the reverence for having children, and how that affects those who do not have children, for whatever reason. (I've written about him before - here and here.) What is encouraging is that these conversations are now more normalised - at least on this father of four's radio show - and he is increasingly showing growth and understanding of the issues and nuances of not having children.
Back to the book! Publishers will ship internationally, and e-books should be available soon after. I'll provide updates.
Pre-orders are available here: https://www.masseypress.ac.nz/books/all/otherhood
https://www.instagram.com/otherhood.book/
https://www.instagram.com/nokiddinginnz/
Of course, ironically, in writing this post, I was reminded
of my Otherhood. I was trying to find my other blog posts about the
book. First, I looked in my MS Word document filled with published blog posts
and drafts. It wouldn't search for "Otherhood" as a freestanding word
though, would it? No, all my results were "motherhood." Argh,
MS Word! I'm shaking my fist at you.
I just checked, and I can order the e-book from Kobo Canada! -- for $32 Canadian (!!). (I can also order the paperback for $40, but I'd have to wait until August.) I may just have to splurge! :) Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWithin one comment on another blog you said both "stupid pro-natalist!" and " I like being more compassionate as a result." You want people to bend over backwards to not hurt your feelings and act like children don't exist... but it's ok for you to call someone stupid for mentioning diaper rash? Mother's aren't special for having kids. You're not special for not having kids. Get over yourself.
ReplyDeleteWell, I probably shouldn't have used the word, "stupid," however accurate and reflective of my feelings at the time it might have been. But you've misunderstood the point. Pro-natalist has nothing to do with the person who has children. It has everythiing to do with her assumption that everyone has them, combined with the fact that she knew both her "students" at the time didn't have children, and STILL mentioned diaper rash, when she was supposed to be teaching. So I think you are deliberately misunderstanding. Pro-natalism is by itself exclusionary. I want people to be more compassionate to all. I make a huge effort against the constant denigration and isolation and "otherness" that society subjects us to. Asking for occasional consideration of our own personal situations is not unreasonable.
DeleteAnd I certainly don't think I'm special for not having kids. But don't worry - society tells me I'm not special All The Time. Hence this blog. Nice that you hid behind anonymity for this comment too.