What Childlessness Taught Me

This is the first World Childless Week I have not really joined. Ironic, when I was named this year as People's Champion. But it has almost passed me by. Oops. Though I think I have a good excuse this year. Go and check it out (link below) and see all the activities and submissions and webinars that are still to come.

I did however write a submission, and you can find it here, and other wonderful writing here (and I've included the links below to follow easily) on the theme 10 Things You Should Know About Me. (Mine is the first on the page). 

These are ten of the myriad things that childlessness (and pregnancy loss and infertility) have taught me:  

1.      That being childless was not a reflection of my worth, and that I have nothing to prove

2.      That I would learn many things from adversity; some good, some bad, all useful

3.      That finding joy in little everyday things can be a lifesaver

4.      That what people say to you or about you says so much more about them than it does about you

5.      That it is okay to be vulnerable, and to surrender to loss to allow new hope to grow

6.      That I need to take care of myself

7.      That there is no Next Big Thing, just life, and that’s enough, and can be wonderful

8.      That honest self-reflection is life-changing; writing online was my way of doing that out loud

9.      That all these things add up to resilience, but being resilient doesn’t mean we don’t hurt, and being strong doesn’t mean we don’t feel weak

10.  That I will be okay, even when unexpected horrible things happen. That knowledge (or at this stage, hope at least) is giving me strength following the recent death of my husband.

 

Useful links:

https://worldchildlessweek.net/ 

https://worldchildlessweek.net/10-things-you-should-know-about-me 

https://worldchildlessweek.net/weds26-2/what-childlessness-taught-me

 

World Childless Week People's Champion

 I am honoured to tell you that I have been selected as this year's World Childless Week People's Champion.

You can find the announcement here on the World Childless Week website. A more detailed bio and comment is here. Oh, and a big close up photo of me in front of one of my camellias.

I have long supported World Childless Week, writing submissions and urging others to do so as well, to ensure a variety of voices are heard. It's a truly international venture, based in the UK but celebrated and recognised throughout the world, and including contributions from women and men across the globe.  

But I have been writing here (and prior to this, on the Ectopic Pregnancy website) for years before that. Come November, I'll have been here at No Kidding for 16 years. My commitment to providing a safe but honest space for women and men who are facing a life without children has been unwavering, and I am proud of that.

I want to thank those who nominated me for this honour. I have my suspicions that I might know who they are (😉), but whoever it was, I am grateful for the recognition. If there's one thing I've learned on this community, it is that they are giving and loving, and that support goes both ways. Sending love to you all.

 

  

 

World Childless Week 2025

World Childless Week starts today. Well, if I'm accurate, it probably starts in about six hours time, given time zone changes, but I'm also probably one of the first bloggers in the world who will write that first sentence! (I'll take my small wins where I can!)

I have contributed two pieces this year. As I say every year, this blog is both My Story, it speaks to I am Worthy, and Moving Forwards. Even if events have meant this year that my own story has meant I have been thinking back a lot. It's about life after infertility, and life as a childless woman, and embracing that life as much as possible.

The topics this year include: 

• Our Stories – Monday 15 September 2025
• Childless LGBTQI+ -  Tuesday 16th
• Childlessness and the Arts – Wednesday 18th
• Childless Health Care – Thursday 19^th
• Have you Got Kids? – Friday 20^th 
• We are Worthy – Saturday 21st
• Moving Forwards – Sunday  22nd

I've written submissions for "Childless Health Care" and "Have You Got Kids?" and will post them here later this week.

I hope you get to take part in some of the activities of the week - whether that is actively in a webinar, or just reading the submissions - and that it both inspires you and helps you feel less alone.

Thanks to Stephanie Joy Phillips in the UK for founding WCW and putting in so much work every year to bring the community together.