My daughter, Anya Wait, at about the age of 4 months. And of course, me, age 24.

Let it be: parenting is NOT about selflessness.

Georgia NeSmith

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In support of “Childfree Women, Please Quit Doing This.”

No one should have to defend their choice either to have or not to have children.

Let me be clear: I am not childfree myself. I have one daughter (see photo above) whose presence in my life, despite all the pain involved for a helluva variety of reasons, I am thrilled to have in my life. And only three miles away at that!

I am definitely not grandchild free, either. My daughter adores babies and has made a career out of her love of them. She had five of her own (lucky lucky me — with grandkids you get the fun, usually without all the self-sacrifice).

But in many ways that was “career training.” No, not career as a mom, but helping other women have the best birthing experience they possibly can, and providing a wonderful photographic record of those events.

Nonetheless, she and I both recognize that the condition of motherhood is not for everyone.

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Georgia NeSmith
Georgia NeSmith

Written by Georgia NeSmith

Retired professor, feminist, writer, photographer, activist, grandmother of 5, overall Wise Woman. Phd UIA School of Journalism & Mass Communication, 1994.