Episode 67: On the Fence: An Honest Conversation About Being Childfree, Motherhood Indecision, and Life in Your Mid-Thirties

In this solo episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I’m discussing something that I’ve been personally struggling with for a long time: the indecision surrounding starting a family. What if you’re not sure if you want kids? What if you’ve never felt certain about being a mom? What if you feel like your fertility window is quickly shrinking? What if you’ve been waiting for that “aha” moment, but it hasn’t arrived?

This episode is all about being in the “messy middle” and being “on the fence.” Not fully in, not fully out. Just…trying to figure it out.

I share what it’s been like to be asked, “When are you having kids?” constantly, the fear of choosing the wrong path, and why more and more women are finding themselves in limbo over the motherhood decision. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or even a little guilty for not having a clear answer, then this episode is for you.

In this episode, I talk about:
• What it actually feels like to be a “fence sitter” about having kids
• The pressure I feel in my 30s to become a mom or make a decision either way
• Misconceptions about women who don’t have children 
• The reality that both paths can be fulfilling and also challenging
• The fact that grief may come with any life path not taken

Resources:
https://www.elle.com/life-love/a63309605/motherhood-decision-essay-2025/
https://therumpus.net/2011/04/21/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-71-the-ghost-ship-that-didnt-carry-us/
https://www.vox.com/first-person/22370250/should-i-have-kids-a-baby-decide-start-family-parenthood-kids-childfree
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/us-birthrate-decline-women.html
https://www.facebook.com/leanincommunity/posts/an-average-of-1-in-4-women-leave-the-workforce-during-their-first-year-of-mother/1157854729708854/

Baby Decision book: https://amzn.to/4s6Fyy8

Rent the Runway has created the shared closet of your dreams. Pick from 10,000+ premium styles. Sign up now at https://renttherunway.com and use code RTRXBOBREIN50 at checkout to save.

At Ritual, they know that better health begins with better ingredients. Use code THEBETSLIFE on https://ritual.com to save 20% on your first month.

Connect with Betsy: 
Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737