Wednesday 16 January 2008

More to Life

In our society, it can sometimes feel as if children and families are the be all and end all. It's often only when you're trying unsuccessfully to have a child, or are involuntarily childless, that you become aware of quite how entrenched some attitudes are, and this can make what is already a difficult experience even harder.

Making a decision to give up on fertility treatment can be tough, and yet clinics are not always ready to offer the counselling many people need to help them through this. For those who decide not to have fertility treatment, or who simply can't afford it, there may be even less in the way of support available.

Involuntary childlessness is often very isolating, and you may feel cut off from family and friends. Family-friendly employment policies and tax breaks can all seem to be set against those without children, and other people often lack sympathy, or any understanding of your situation.

However, help is at hand. More to Life is a national charity working to offer support to all those who are involuntarily childless for whatever reason. They can give advice and information, and also have a network of local contacts. They also organise groups and social events. You can find their website here

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