Your partner wants to have a baby, but you prefer to remain child-free. Psychotherapist Merle Bombardieri has been helping couples with this issue for decades. Many couples can discover a middle ground, provided they are open to exploring different possibilities, she says. Here are some exercises that can help clarify the situation and lead to a solution that minimizes regrets: 👶 Bombardieri says that for the vast majority of couples, feeling 100% certain about their decision is unrealistic. Instead, aim for 80% certainty. Since any choice may lead to some regret, focus on which option you'll regret the least rather than if you'll regret your decision at all. 👶 To help couples gain clarity, try the solo exercise called the "chair dialogue." Find a quiet space and set up two chairs facing each other: one for "parenthood" and the other for "child-free." Sit in each chair, making your strongest case for becoming a parent or staying child-free. After both of you complete the exercise, come together to discuss what came up. 👶 Rate how strongly you each feel about your decision on a scale from 0 to 10. Zero means you would never want to have kids and 10 means you were put on this Earth to have children. For additional guidance for when you are on the fence about parenthood, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
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Welcome to my geopolitics blog site. This is a Hawaii Island news site focusing on geopolitical news, analysis, information, and commentary. I will cite a variety of sources, ranging from all sides of the political spectrum.