Maria Coffey has lived A LIFE. She started travelling in her teens, desparate to escape safe, settled life in the UK and see the world. From Morocco to Malawi to the remote Solomon Islands, Maria’s adventures have taken her to places and people she never would have experienced had she had children. Now 73, Maria looks back on a life full of love and loss, of risks and rewards - but no regrets!

Follow Maria on Instagram and read her memor Instead: Navigating the Adventures of a Childfree Life (a We are Childfree book club favourite!)

Join your community of childfree cheerleaders and sign up for a We are Childfree membership today!

A listener asks: what do you say when a child asks, do you have kids?

This one goes out to all the cool aunts, childcare professionals, and our wonderful childfree community who offered such great advice!

If you have a problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree.com with "Ask WAC" as the subject line.

Questions from We are Childfree members get priority! To jump the queue, get episodes a week early, and find your community of childfree cheerleaders, join us at www.wearechildfree.com/join/ 🙌

Links

Winery: Vinarija Bošković

A Bit Fruity podcast: Christian Indoctrination in Homeschooling

The New York Times: Women Who Said No to Motherhood

Story: Mary Gay, 79, USA

We are Childfree: Share Your Story

#DefundPawPatrol

OK this one’s a doozy! Even if you’re sure you want kids, society’s going to try and pressure you to doubt yourself and change your mind. And when that happens, how do you separate those external influences from your true heart’s desire. We offer some guidance, with the help of our wonderful childfree community!

If you have a problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree.com with "Ask WAC" as the subject line.

Questions from We are Childfree members get priority! To jump the queue, get episodes a week early, and find your community of childfree cheerleaders, join us at www.wearechildfree.com/join/ 🙌

Links

Podcast: No regrets, with 78 year-old childfree trailblazer Marcia Drut-Davis

Masterclass: Create Your Childfree Life Vision

Book: The Baby Matrix

Podcast: Don’t fear regret, with Orna Donath

Podcast: Kids or Childfree

Podcast: Navigating ambivalence, with clarity coach Keltie Maguire

We rally round a childfree couple whose friend groups are now full of parents, with little time for anything but their kids. This is such a tricky problem that we’ve all either faced or one day will, so we tapped the We are Childfree community hive mind for some stellar support and amazing advice!

If you have a problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree.com with "Ask WAC" as the subject line.

Questions from We are Childfree members get priority! To jump the queue, get episodes a week early, and find your community of childfree cheerleaders, join us at www.wearechildfree.com/join/ 🙌

Links

Study: Parents spend more time with children now than they did 50 years ago

The Cut: Adorable Little Detonators

Report: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation

Meetup Group: Cape Coral Childfree Women

Book: We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships

Childfree Trip: Belize: Jungles, Mayans & Manatees With Zoe

Book: Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women

“Now I wish I'd never brought it up but mostly I'm sad and feel quite alone.”

We help out a childfree woman whose partner is pushing back against her decision to get permanent birth control surgery. There’s tons of great advice from the childfree community here, about negotiating this tricky subject with your partner, what to do if they seem to be sitting on the fence, and owning what is ultimately your choice, for your life.

If you have a problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree.com with "Ask WAC" as the subject line.

Questions from We are Childfree members get priority! To jump the queue, get episodes a week early, and find your community of childfree cheerleaders, join us at www.wearechildfree.com/join/ 🙌

Links
Childfree Stories: My Body Their Choice

Podcast: Don’t fear regret, with Orna Donath

Journal: Do childfree people regret their choice?
Journal: Happy World Vasectomy Day!

Resource: The Childfree Friendly Doctors List

Resource: Sterilisation Binder Guide

Ever wondered how van life or any kind of long term travel really works? Like, practically speaking? In this episode we answer a great question from a day one supporter about how to downsize for a life of adventure. Listen in to hear...

💪 Our brutal Marie-Kondo-on-steroids approach to shedding stuff
🗺️ The logistics of long term travel without a home base
🔮 How Essentialism (not Minimalism) helped us focus on what really matters
📚 And some big news (HUGE) from the We are Childfree team!

If you're worried about facing unwelcome questions this festive season, check out our FREE Childfree Holiday Survival Guide 🤶👍

Links
Podcast: Cool aunt energy, with environmentalist, atheist and big, blended family member Marie Fisher
Podcast: Life done differently, with Lisa Jansen
Masterclass: Create Your Childfree Life Vision
Book: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
Book: How to Be Childfree by We are Childfree! Sign up for updates 🙌

If you have a problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree.com with "Ask WAC" as the subject line.

Questions from We are Childfree members get priority! To jump the queue, get episodes a week early, and find your community of childfree cheerleaders, join us at www.wearechildfree.com/join/ 🙌

Welcome to a very special episode, part 2 of our AWA - Ask WAC Anything 🙌

We welcome your questions about how to live your best childfree life and this vital project. Listen in to hear...

💝 How to navigate friendships and dating when you're childfree
😱 What to do if you fear aging alone
🦸‍♀️ The We are Childfree origin story
🧌 The worst trolls and how they'll never stop us!

If you're worried about facing unwelcome questions this festive season, check out our FREE Childfree Holiday Survival Guide 🤶👍

Links
Podcast: Don’t fear regret, with Orna Donath
Podcast: The Search for Close Connections: Making Friends in Your 40s
"They were best mates. Then one had a baby, while the other struggled. Two brutally honest takes on what happens when motherhood affects friendship" in The Guardian
Childfree Wealth

Die With Zero
Podcast: You are enough, with Dr Kate Tomas

We are Childfree: Building Bridges

If you have a problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree.com with "Ask WAC" as the subject line.

Questions from We are Childfree members get priority! To jump the queue, get episodes a week early, and find your community of childfree cheerleaders, join us at www.wearechildfree.com/join/ 🙌

Welcome to a very special episode, part 1 of our AWA - Ask WAC Anything 🙌

We welcome your questions about us, our relationship, our childfree choices! Listen in to hear...
🍻 How Zoë and James met
🤪 How we've handled being "different"
💸 Who we're leaving our money to in our wills
🚐 And what it's REALLY like living in a van!

If you're worried about facing unwelcome questions this festive season, check out our FREE Childfree Holiday Survival Guide 🤶👍

This podcast was brought to you by the generous support of the We are Childfree member community, who get to hear it before anyone else. Thank you so much for your support 🙏

Links

Masterclass: Create Your Childfree Life Vision
Podcast: Marie Forleo X Liz Gilbert
"People say you’ll know – but will I regret not having children?" in The Guardian
Population Matters

Myvoicemychoice.org

Die With Zero

If you have a question or problem you'd like the community's help with, email hello@wearechildfree with "Ask WAC" as the subject line, and we'll tap into the childfree hive mind for a future episode! 🐝