Since she was a child, Jessica knew she never wanted to be a mother, and with that in mind, she used her money to travel and pursue her dreams. “Motherhood is incredible, but it’s not for me”, she explains.
More and more women are deciding not to bring children into the world, for different reasons: for example, because they do not have that maternal instinct, because they wish to pursue other dreams, or simply because they do not want a life with children.
Such was the case of Jessica Howk-Ippolito, a woman who is now 52 years old, who gave up the possibility of having babies when she was just a child, as she says that she never had that maternal instinct calling her to become a mother.
Jessica Hawk-Ippolito
A schoolteacher by profession in New Jersey, United States, Jessica explains that this decision had been taking shape since childhood: “As a child, I never wanted a doll. I didn’t play mommy and baby. People always said I would change my mind. Even on my wedding day, they asked me when I was going to have children. I only thought about myself and my choice”.
Although she felt pressure from talk about having children, maternal instinct, the biological clock, loneliness, among other things women have to hear, the teacher never let the comments bring her down and remained confident in her decision. The reason? Many dreams yet to fulfill.
Jessica Hawk-Ippolito
“I have always had a lot of freedom to pursue my dreams. I think children and motherhood are incredible, but they are not for me despite what people say”, she explained.
With her decision not to become a mother from a very young age, when she started dating, she told all her boyfriends that she did not want to have children. In fact, when she got married, her ex-husband did not want to be a father either, and they were both happy to agree. However, they never stopped receiving the classic question: “When are you having children?”.
“I knew that if I ever wanted to be a mother, I would have to be a stay-at-home mom, but that would not make me happy. People always said I would change my mind, but I didn’t”, she explained.
Jessica Hawk-Ippolito
Finally, Jessica was able to fulfill many of her dreams, especially that of traveling the world. “I was able to travel to Italy, France and more dream destinations. I had so many incredible experiences. And I didn’t have to think about anyone but myself, so I was able to take advantage of the opportunity”, she says.
Jessica shares her story in order to support other women going through the same situation, especially when they are told about loneliness for not having children: “People think I’m alone because I don’t have children, but I’m not alone at all”, she concluded.