Financial Wellness + the Question of Children
“I have felt a shift recently in myself that up until a year or two ago, I felt like I had all the time in the world to decide to get married and have kids and now I am feeling that more acutely. I have been struggling because I really don’t know what I want. I am a pisces- I am very much go with the flow, I hate making decisions, I want to see where the current takes me, I want to leave things a little bit open. I have been struggling with the decision of whether to have children or not. I don’t feel super strongly one way or the other…something’s gotta give. Where in my life could i move things around to make time to be the kind of parent I would want to be? You are alone in this choice and that is overwhelming to me. “
Christina
Written by Rebecca
Inspired by Christina + Anna’s conversation in Episode 2 of Season 2 of the INTERWOVXN Podcast
We love the bond of these two sisters who navigated cultural differences growing up and continue to pave the way for their younger siblings and cousins. As Christina and Anna approach their mid-thirties, they discuss family, financial stability, what fills their cup, imbalances of domestic partnership, and the difficult question of whether they want to have children.
As a fertility acupuncturist and someone who struggled to get pregnant myself, sitting with the question of a life with or without children , whether for myself or in working with women, is always there. For some it is a decision one way or the other, sometimes an easy one, but the struggles of uncertainty of how to move forward when you are unsure or it isn’t happening (and the clock is ticking) can be overwhelming. We wanted to share a few resources should you or someone you know be struggling to make decisions on your path or are looking for support or reassurance..
“6 Questions To Ask Yourself If You're Not Sure You Want Kids “
by Ann Davidman , co-author with Denise L. Carlini Motherhood—Is It For Me? Your Step-by-Step Guide to Clarity
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/do-i-want-kids-quiz
Live Childfree: A Place for Adults Without Children
Live Childfree is a lifestyle site for adults without children, both those who chose not to have kids and those who wanted kids, but for whatever reason life didn’t work out that way. Some readers are struggling to come to terms with childlessness while others are very happy to not have kids.
https://livechildfree.com/
Think you would like to get pregnant or are currently trying?
Check out our WOVXN Wellness Fertile.Health Guide, co-written by myself and Dr. Ellen Hayes of Kindbody
https://www.interwovxn.com/fertilehealth-guide
Here is what Christina is currently reading?
The Baby Decision: How to Make The Most Important Choice of Your Life by Merle Bombardier
https://www.thebabydecision.com/about-the-book/
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancients Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff
https://michaeleendoucleff.com/hunt-gather-parent/
"We look to each other for support in a lot of things…when we got our first jobs, what do we do with money? What is investing, What is a 401k? For our parents, these were not things that they talked about- we wanted to be informed. We have younger cousins and siblings- we put together a guide- we want to help the younger generation…and give them resources that we didn’t have." Anna
In carrying through the idea of planting the seed from Episode 1 this season, it is interesting to think of the impact that can be had when financial wellness is promoted from a young age. It is not something that I had–studies have shown that most of our parents didn’t talk about money. This is changing and in this next chapter, one of my personal goals is to improve my own financial wellness and set a foundation for my daughter. From gender pay gaps to the reality that as women we are more likely to leave the workforce to care for family (further limiting our lifetime earnings), women are twice as likely as men to associate negative emotions with their finances and suffer more financially after a divorce.
What Is Financial Wellness? How To Better Manage Your Money To Improve Your Health, According To Experts
by Naydeline Mejia for Women’s Health Magazine
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a41446672/what-is-financial-wellness/
70 Financial Statistics About Women You Should Know
by Cassidy Horton for Clever Girl Finance
https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/blog/financial-statistics-about-women/
Christina’s Fav Financial Security/Planning Podcast
So Money
https://podcast.farnoosh.tv/