Making Sense of Childlessness
What if the question "why don't you have children?" was one you spent an entire doctorate trying to answer for yourself?
That's exactly what Dr Naomi Menahem did. And what she found wasn't the misery she'd half expected. It was a nuanced and defiant feeling, and ultimately more hopeful.
In Episode 89, Naomi joins us from Byron Bay to share her research on circumstantial childlessness, the concept of the Deferral Iceberg, and why she's chosen "robust pragmatism" over the quiet resignation of "acceptance." She also tells us about Childless Conversation, her new monthly in-person gathering for people who've been silent for too long.
Meet our Guest
Naomi spent over 10 years making sense of her childlessness, researching, synthesising and ultimately writing a Doctorate that changed her. She identifies as circumstantially childless, having never made a conscious choice to be without children, nor, to her knowledge, was she infertile. Now a childless advocate, she founded Childless Conversation, a monthly in-person gathering to break the silence. Not a support group, or a therapy session. A conversation, gently held, for those who have been quiet for too long. Professionally, Naomi is a strategic communications specialist with over 30 years of experience in corporate, government, and higher education, working across campaigns, change programs and events. She is also a certified nonfiction book coach and founder of Distil Your Book, helping aspiring authors anchor their foundation before the writing begins. At the heart of everything she does is storytelling. The childless story is one she knows better than most.
She is reading Whistler by Ann Pachett and listening to Where the Light Gets In by Ben Crowe.
Guest links
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/naomimenahem (or search Dr Naomi Menahem)
Website: naomimenahem.com.au
Helpline details
UK: Contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123, they're open 24 hours and are there to listen and Mind.
USA: Suicide Prevention
Canada: Canada Crisis
Australia: Beyond Blue
Sarah Lawrence After The Storm
Pink Therapy (UK): Directory of LGBTQIA+ friendly therapists.
Many of our guests have channels online and blogs so you can follow what they do and read their words. Head to our podcast page, and click on the episode image to access the show notes and further reading.
Disclaimer
The Full Stop podcast and content posted by The Full Stop Community CIC is presented solely for general information, and educational purposes. The guests’ views may not represent those of the Full Stop Community CIC, online community members or the co-directors. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.
