To the Childless and Single

With Valentine’s Day upon us, I was all set to write a blog about how wonderful this holiday is for the childless.  And then, a fellow CNBC mentioned that one might handle childlessness better with a loving partner to lean on.  And it hit me.  I was looking at Valentine’s Day through the eyes of a childless woman who is part of a childless couple.  The perspective of being childless and single had not even crossed my mind…

While the childless not by choice have much in common, understanding the pain that comes from desiring children that we just cannot seem to have, we also each have our own unique set of circumstances surrounding our childlessness.  Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women, wrote an article entitled, “50 Ways Not to be a Mother.”  This article clearly shows that there are many paths to the destination of childlessness, including not finding a loving partner with whom to have children.

Once enlightened, my heart ached for the childless and single.  I wanted to help, so I started thinking about what I could say…

I don’t understand.

One of the things that irritated me the most when I was struggling with infertility was the “I know how you feel” statement.  I specifically remember when a woman with four kids sat down next to me at my niece’s birthday party and said, “I finally know how you feel.”  I looked at her, questioning what she meant.  She continued that they had been trying for several months to get pregnant and it just wasn’t happening.  Now, she claimed, she understood what it felt like to be infertile.  Really?!

So, I will not sit here and say that I understand what it feels like to be childless and single.  Because I do not.  I feel your pain over your childlessness.  My heart aches, knowing that grief is often all consuming and devastating.  But I do not know what it feels like to want a partner, a loving relationship, and not be able to find that special person…

I won’t ask you to look at the bright side…

While I’m all about looking at the bright side, focusing on the positive, changing your perspective, those glass half-full, everybody has problems, chipper optimists can be downright annoying when you are in the depths of your struggles.  The moms who joke, “Do you want to borrow my kids?!” The fertile who say, “At least you won’t have stretch marks!”  Well, I bit my tongue on more than one occasion rather than retorting, “Yes, I’ll happily take your kids.”  As for the stretch marks?  Whatever.  I’d have loved to have quipped back, “Well, at least you don’t have a permanently bloated belly because of endometriosis.”

So, I won’t tell you about the annoying things my hubby does because I imagine you’d be happy with someone bothering you…

I won’t offer advice.

Now, this is the hard one.  The first thing that popped into my mind was advice.  Not on how to get a partner, but about how to help alleviate the pain over being childless.  And although I am childless, not one childless and single person has asked for my advice.  And I specifically stated in one of my blogs, “My advice:  Don’t give advice.”  So…  Unless someone asks for it, I’ll refrain from giving my “helpful” advice.  (Well, at least in this post. 😉 )

I will say, “I’m sorry.”

To the childless and single, what I will do is say, “I’m sorry.”  I’m sorry that you don’t have the loving relationship or the littles that your heart desires.  I’m sorry that life isn’t turning out how you expected or wanted.  I’m sorry that you are having to go through this.  I’m sorry that you are struggling.  I’m sorry you are sad.  I’m sorry you are hurt.

I will give you hugs.

And I am giving you the biggest virtual hug that I can right now.  Hugging you so tightly that you feel the broken pieces just might be able to be put back together.  Hugging you so tightly that you feel warmth and love and the inkling that everything just might be okay…  Hugging you until you decide it’s time to let go.  Hugging you to show that even though I don’t completely get it, I really do care about your feelings.

To the childless and single, you are not forgotten.

To the childless and single, you are not forgotten.  When you feel alone, please gently remind us that your circumstances are a bit different than ours.  Remind us that your heart is grieving in a distinct way.  Remind us to be considerate that not all are in a loving relationship.  Remind us because we really do want to support you…

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Photo Credit:  Aaron Burden of StockSnap.io