Fears, shoulds, and unrealistic notions can lead to poor choices. Your potential children deserve better. Just as it's more empowering to be a parent by design rather than by mistake, it's more empowering to be childless by choice rather than by default. Ask yourself if your circumstances serve as excuses to avoid making a difficult choice. With time, you're likely to make peace with any path you take.
Humans are adaptive.
By 2010, an estimated 31 million married couples won't have children. Such a redefinition may foster richer connections between the elderly and the young, related or not - just as in multigenerational households prominent in past decades. If your email is chosen for the column, your name and identifying information will be changed to honor your privacy. This column is designed for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or a visit to a mental health professional. If you experience abnormal anxiety, depression, or serious emotional or situational difficulties, please seek professional help immediately.