Episode 127: Merle Bombardieri - Kids: How to Make Life's Most Important Choice

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."

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(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

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