👶 Should I have a child?
"We may never be sure we are making the right decision, but we can strive to understand our choice’s contours thoroughly and fairly"
Forgive the clickbait-y subject line but it’s the topic of my latest reading list for Longreads. I wrote about the ethical, emotional, practical, climate and other considerations that impact my decision whether or not to have children.
From the piece:
“The decision whether or not to have a child is one of the most consequential choices most people make. As I edge past my mid-thirties, it’s a question that has dominated my thinking. When faced with a dilemma I can’t solve, my usual strategy is to read. I order a bunch of books and immerse myself in other people’s experiences. It allows my thoughts to coalesce around a few themes; from there, I can see where I agree and where I diverge. To paraphrase Joan Didion, I read to understand what I think.”
If you’re looking for a clear answer, you’ll probably be disappointed. But if you’re interested in thinking through the complexities of a huge question, without dumbing down or avoiding the messiness of life, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Here’s the full piece which is free to read.
Five things:
🍑I invested in an ergonomic butt pillow to deal with tailbone pain and I have not regretted it. I was inspired by this one which I heard talked about on a podcast but they don't deliver to Ireland. This one is cheaper and has served my butt just fine.
🎧 I’ve really been enjoying Trolled. Hosted by Aoife Grace Moore and produced by Cassie Delaney1, it’s about the toxicity of online life.
🇨🇭Finished Big Swiss this week with a huge grin on my face. It’s about a sex therapist’s transcriptionist who becomes infatuated with a client while listening to her sessions. Gripping, sexy, weird and very funny, I think it’ll be one of my top books of the year.
✈️ Was so moved by Laura’s decision to emigrate that I got my card out and signed up for her Substack.
📸 The best drone photos of 2023 + some amazing bird pics.
Cassie was also by editor at Rogue btw.