I came across Schmutzie's controversial post, 17 Untruths Parents Believe About NonParents.
She's a nonparent, I'm a nonparent. I don't have the same circumstances as Schmutzie, and I don't share all of her views in her list, but I respect her for putting it all out there and exposing herself to the elements.
Here's one untruth that resonates with me.
#6. "Non-parents don't know the true depth of human love."
Hmmmm. Oooh boy. All you parents out there, don't ever say this, even amongst yourselves when there aren't any non-parents present. It's cruel.
Over the years I've heard friends say it, I've heard the media and movies say it more, and it had become ingrained into my brain. I believed it. I said it to myself all the time. How could I possibly know true, selfless, unconditional, greatest love ever if I had never birthed a child?
I talked about this lack of greatest love ever in my life with my therapist. With my husband.
It's easy to be sad and bitter about living without the greatest love ever. It's harder to change that voice in my head.
Today, however, if someone were to say to me, "Oh, you don't have children? That's a shame, because you will never know the true depth of human love..." I would respond, "Who are you to judge what the true depth of human love is?" I might also say "Bite me" under my breath in a passive-aggressive manner.
How's your uppercut these days?
Posted by: Kristin | 31 May 2013 at 01:22 PM
Ha! Workin on it
Posted by: blaugra | 31 May 2013 at 03:41 PM