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Jessica Rojakovick's avatar

This is beautiful and you’ve articulated so well much of what I felt about this little episode. I was blessed to meet my husband at 24 and have had three children with him. I feel so undeservedly blessed, as I always worried that wouldn’t be my path. Bethel I admire your clarity and compassion and steadfastness so much.

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Eric M. Hamilton's avatar

I really appreciate your insight into this. I dealt with many similar feelings in my 20s, not feeling like I'd ever marry (I eventually did at 29), but I think the struggle, though similar, is definitely harder for women than it is for men.

Now with two babies, I do miss certain things, but not the things Julia imagines one might miss. I don't miss concerts, though I do sometimes miss waking up on my schedule. But I miss being able to set my own schedule. Sometimes waking up with a coffee and a book is not on the table. Sometimes I have to take my opportunities to "get some work done" in the lulls when naptimes coincide rather than when I feel like it. My time is more limited, but at the same time, it forces me to consider what the best use of my time actually is. I look back on days I binged tv with horror. So much wasted time. I don't wish to ever go back to that.

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