Meaning Making for the Childfree Woman in
Mid-Life and Beyond: Currently Offered Online

Group Details

Spring 2020 Evening Session
Thursdays
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
March 26 – June 11, 2020
(12 weeks)
New members are welcome to be screened through April 9.
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Spring 2020 Daytime Session
Wednesdays
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
April 1 - June 10
(11 weeks)
New members are welcome to be screened through April 15.
​
 Cost
$55 per session, or $50 if paid in advance
Sliding Scale Available on Limited Basis

Group size limited to 10 members 
All potential members must be
screened prior to attending. To schedule a screening, please contact Jackie at
805-766-4585
jackieom@mac.com
Waiting lists available for upcoming groups once filled.

      For many middle-aged women hovering around 50, there is usually plenty of social and family support to draw upon as they approach the traditional transitions of this period of life. From facing empty nest syndrome to planning their kids’ weddings or becoming grandmothers, these happenings are so accepted and expected that conversations about them take place everywhere: at the grocery store, all over the media, around the family dinner table, or during Wine Wednesdays with girlfriends.
     But what about the middle-aged woman hovering around 50 that does not have kids—who is Not-a-Mom, either by choice or due to circumstances other than fertility challenges? Where does she fit in? Where are the water cooler convos, meet-ups, happy hours, or family conversations that directly address her unique realities and feelings about her past, present, and future as a childfree, 50-ish woman in today’s world?
     “Childfree” is a term commonly used to refer to women who have chosen to not have children or who feel that ambivalence and/or life circumstances (not meeting the right partner, dedication to career or vocation, financial hardship, etc.) led them to not becoming mothers. This decision impacts their lives differently than middle-aged mothers, in ways that sometimes lead childfree women to feel like they do not fit in with their families, friends, or the larger world. Often, childfree women experience feelings of being misunderstood or labeled as selfish, immature, and misguided.
     Childfree women approaching or arriving upon middle age may begin to internalize negative messages around the taboo of not becoming mothers or following a traditional life script, resulting in feeling depressed, anxious, or like they are a failure or let their loved ones down. Self-doubt and regret are prone to creep in at this time, even if a woman has felt confident about her choices throughout her life.
     Loneliness and isolation are common, and feelings of loss and grief often emerge. Questions on the legacy one wishes to leave—or even how to leave a legacy without signing on to a traditional script—can cause feelings of being lost, un-anchored, or without value or purpose. This time of life brings up the importance of having a community of support that can provide us with validation and a space to be seen and heard in our unique stories. Having a community of support helps us see ourselves more clearly, encouraging us to embrace our present with more vigor and face our futures with more hope and purpose.
     Join us in a welcoming space where you are invited to sharpen your sense of identity in order to reclaim your voice and inspiration that can lead to reconnecting with a happy and meaningful life. Groups will continue throughout the year, so feel free to reach out anytime with questions or to schedule a screening. Download the flyer below for full details.