As lived by Brandi Lytle
I’m “cheating” a bit this month and sharing my CNBC story with you. But there’s a reason…
There was a time when I would have a near panic attack thinking about turning 40 and still being childless. My heart would race, my palms would sweat, and I would become short of breath as I thought about what I believed would be an empty life.
This Friday, I turn 41. I’m childless. But this fact no longer causes me anxiety and my life is definitely not empty…
How did you become childless not by choice? (Infertility, chance, circumstance?)
Those of you who follow the blog know that I am childless not by choice due to infertility. My hubby and I struggled for ten years to have a baby. But ultimately, we decided to accept life as it was…
If you want to read more about our journey, check out these blogs:
- Before We Knew: The Diagnosis of Severe Infertility
- After the Diagnosis: The Beginning of Our Infertility Struggle
- After the Diagnosis: Ten Years into Our Infertility Journey
- So, why didn’t we just adopt?
- To the Childless, Why did you give up?
You are so much more than childless not by choice. Tell us about yourself!
I am Brandi and to describe myself is complicated… I’m a wife, dog mom, aunt, host mom, fashionista, blogger, infertile woman, uniquely me… I am finding joy in Plan B!
What roles are you redefining for yourself? and How are you redefining those roles?
Since I simply couldn’t accept that I would never be a mom, I walked into year one of accepting my childless life determined to redefine what momhood meant to me. So, I have spent a little over four years redefining momhood…
What do I mean by that? Well, I decided that being a dog mom and a host mom makes me a real mom.
How are you Creating a New plan Bravely and Courageously?
By redefining momhood.
If you want to read more about this, check out these blogs:
Have you figured out your Plan B? If so, what is it?!
YES! My Plan B is accepting life as it is and trying to live it joyfully each and every day. Of course, I have the occasional wobble. But for the most part, I have found the bright sides of infertility and a childless life.
Also, this blog, Not So Mommy…, is part of my Plan B. After 17 years of teaching, I resigned and decided to share my story in the hopes that others wouldn’t feel so alone on their journey…
What emojis represent the “. . .” part of your Not So Mommy… story?
For me, the “. . .” takes on many different forms. As a dog mom, they are paw prints. As an aunt, different colored hearts to represent all my nieces and nephews. As a host mom, they are Brazilian flags and green hearts (because Bruna loves all things Irish). As a wife, red lips representing kisses to my hubby. And as a blogger, they are ink pens because I love to write ideas in my journal.
Fabulous one, thank you for visiting the blog, reading my story, and supporting this crazy Plan B of mine! You are such a big part of my CNBC journey–Creating a New plan Bravely & Courageously!
Want to inspire others and share your story? Click here to find out how.
Featured Photo: Anton Atanasov of StockSnap.io
