"Motherhood is one of the most, if not the most, personal decisions a woman makes in her life. And it is a decision she makes over and over again throughout her life, whether she has children or not. No one can truly understand a woman’s reasons for making her decisions. Not a husband or a mother or a best friend, although these people may contribute to the decision. Ironically this decision is also one that society feels most free to comment on, discuss, debate, and dictate to women (married or single, gay or straight, too old/young, natural childbirth or scheduled C-section, breastmilk or formula, and a million other decisions). All of this can make it difficult for a woman to differentiate society’s expectations from her own preferences. In my case I have reacted by choosing not to discuss or show interest in the topic of motherhood in public. After all it’s no one else’s business and I don’t want to feel that I have to defend my decision to someone else, especially when I haven’t yet made a decision. But that is exactly why it is so important to have the discussion with others. It’s important to me making an informed decision; it’s essential to women to know that they are not alone in their thoughts, worries, questions; and it’s vital to the growth of society as a whole to understand that there isn’t a “right way” to approach motherhood."

Jessica, 34, Arlington, VA
Government Contractor