Titles Matter

The title that got under my skin: “Is it Possible to be Child-Free and Content?”

In case you didn’t know, there are multiple routes to happiness. But beyond that, this post is definitive proof of why titles matter. The piece that the post is about is stunning. (“Children felt like both a way to jump-start my real life and a way to end it.”) And has a great title––”How to Build a Life Without Kids.” It is clear. And it points out in no uncertain terms that it is possible (and even probable) to be child-free and content, a question that the poster clearly doesn’t need to ask if they read the piece.

Titles matter because if I had only rolled my eyes and hadn’t clicked, I wouldn’t have read this moment:

I would often catch myself entertaining other people’s fantasies of what it would mean for me to have children and, briefly, intensely wanting those fantasies too. Later, I’d worry about my indecision. I’d be in the shower, or about to fall asleep, and I would question who was right: them or me?

The updated piece (it was republished this summer) is a mixture of women who wanted to have children and couldn’t build their family and people who knew they didn’t want to go the parenthood route, and the whole thing is a great read.

These are questions every person needs to ask themselves with any of the “givens” in life such as go to college/get married/have a career/have children. To not get caught up in other people’s fantasies but instead carefully weigh each decision and go with your own feelings.