Keep Talking
Keep Talking
Dan Riley
Episode 127: Merle Bombardieri - Kids: How to Make Life's Most Important Choice
1 hour 3 minutes Posted Nov 1, 2024 at 10:00 am.
Merle Bombardieri is a clinical social worker, a psychotherapist and the author of "The Baby Decision: How to Make The Most Important Choice of Your Life."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------
Intro
How Merle got involved in helping people decide about kids
How Merle decided whether to have kids
Maintaining neutrality when going through exercises
Being childfree should be the default
Role models for the childfree
When is not having kids a growth decision?
Is Merle disappointed that one of her kids is childfree?
Exercises for straight couples to decide whether to have kids
Long-term ambivalence should result in being childfree
How to better understand what it's like to have kids
What do the childfree not understand about parenthood?
"As a child-free person, you have a right to be ordinary.”
Suggestions for someone who wants to be childfree and has no support
Who should become parents?
Are we getting better at having this conversation?
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Show notes
Merle Bombardieri is a clinical social worker, a psychotherapist and the author of "The Baby Decision: How to Make The Most Important Choice of Your Life."------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) How Merle got involved in helping people decide about kids(07:21) How Merle decided whether to have kids(09:44) Maintaining neutrality when going through exercises(13:34) Being childfree should be the default(17:57) Role models for the childfree(21:00) When is not having kids a growth decision?(23:05) Is Merle disappointed that one of her kids is childfree?(26:30) Exercises for straight couples to decide whether to have kids(36:02) Long-term ambivalence should result in being childfree(38:50) How to better understand what it's like to have kids(40:48) What do the childfree not understand about parenthood?(42:30) "As a child-free person, you have a right to be ordinary.”(44:30) Suggestions for someone who wants to be childfree and has no support(49:05) Who should become parents?(56:49) Are we getting better at having this conversation?(58:34) The importance of growth for the child-free