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IVF Failed You - The "So Now What?" Podcast

I am a Fertility Survivor.  The kind you enter into treatments hoping you will never be... childless.  After several rounds of IUI and IVF, at some of the leading Fertility Centers, I was told I was no longer a candidate for fertility treatment.  It left me asking myself...

So now what?

For the years that followed, I tried to put myself back together and tell myself I would be OK, but I wasn't.  I was shattered - I felt alone and failed by the whole process and especially, my body.  I yearned for others that felt the pain I felt and someone that could help me navigate a life without a child. 

I didn't find it, so I decide to create it.  

Fast forward to today. I am still childless, but my beliefs about my life have changed.  I decided that I can create meaning and purpose in my life even though I am not a mother.  I've learned to love myself and the body I felt failed me as a woman.

If you've been on this journey, hop on and join me as we create something we were not offered.  Let's create a sisterhood for the bravest women I know.  We brush ourselves off and don't let terms like: Failed, Unexplained, Miscarriage, Not-viable or Advanced Maternal Age define us anymore.  

 

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  2. Workplace Relationships as a Childless Woman

Workplace Relationships as a Childless Woman

Feb 28, 2024

Workplace Relationships as a Childless Woman

Introduction:

  • Warm greetings to all our listeners. Still on the road, recording from a different location.

  • Recap of the month-long focus on relationships, covering spouses, friends with kids, and now, colleagues and coworkers.

Travel and Relationship Adventures:

  • Detailed overview of recent travels, including experiences in Grass Valley and Sonoma.

  • Insight into the effort invested in maintaining a strong relationship, emphasizing the importance of taking time for oneself.

  • Teasing a potential course based on lessons learned during the vacation.

Professional and Personal Connections:

  • Shift to discussing relationships in the workplace and the unique perspective of being childless.

  • Balancing personal adventures with work commitments while traveling through California.

Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Yourself:

  • Encouragement to set boundaries at work and avoid volunteering for extra responsibilities.

  • Challenging the notion that childless individuals must always be available for additional work.

  • Highlighting the importance of prioritizing personal time and saying 'no' when necessary.

Water Cooler Talk and Self-Ownership:

  • Addressing the potential feeling of inadequacy when sharing weekend activities without children.

  • Encouraging childless women to take ownership of their unique experiences and not shrink away.

  • Inspiring confidence in sharing personal adventures, whether it's a spontaneous drive or trying something new.

Workplace Dynamics and Being Childless:

  • Discussing the dynamics of being the only one without children in the workplace.

  • Addressing situations where childless individuals may feel compelled to take on additional work.

  • Advocating for setting boundaries and having open conversations with colleagues and managers.

Compensation for Extra Responsibilities:

  • Suggesting negotiating compensation for taking on extra work, challenging the idea of doing it without recognition.

  • Offering alternatives like additional time off or spot bonuses for the additional workload.

  • Acknowledging that personal time is valuable, regardless of parental status.

Conclusion and Reflection:

  • Wrapping up the month-long series on relationships with a focus on workplace dynamics.

  • Encouraging listeners to reflect on their workplace experiences and share any additional insights.

  • Reminding everyone that it's never too late to prioritize personal well-being and discover one's meaning.