Two Is Enough - A Couple's Guide to Living Childless by Choice

Aug 2, 2026

Two Is Enough - A Couple's Guide to Living Childless by Choice explores intentional childlessness through personal reflection and structured discussion. It frames the Childless by Choice Project and examines who chooses this path, how the choice emerges, and what assumptions or intermediate experiences shape decisions. The book addresses reasons for not having children, navigating relationships “on the same page,” and confronting myths about living childfree in a pronatalist world while seeking fulfillment and belonging.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages268

Reading Time6 h 53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The Childless by Choice Project

Chapter 1

Who Are the Childless by Choice?

Chapter 2

The Dawning of Choice

Chapter 3

Assumption, Decision, or Something in Between?

Chapter 4

Eighteen Reasons(and More) Why We Don't Have Kids

Chapter 5

On the Same Page: Soul Mates, Partners, and Best Friends

Chapter 6

Marginal and Misunderstood: The Myths and Realities of Living Childfree

Chapter 7

Childless in Babyville: Navigating a Pronatalist World

Chapter 8

A Place at the Table

Appendix A

Appendix B

Notes

Resources

DISCARDEDRichmond Public Library # A Couple's Guide toLiving Childless by Choice RICHMONDCALIFORNIA,94804PUBLICLIBRARY LAURA S.SCOTT SEAL PRESS Two Is Enough A Couple's Guide to Living Childless by Choice Copyright ◎2009 by Laura S.Scott Published by Seal Press A Member of the Perseus Books Group1700 Fourth StreetBerkeley,California All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in anyform without written permission from the publisher,except by reviewers who mayquote brief excerpts in connection with a review. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Scott,Laura S. Two is enough:a couple's guide to living childless by choice/LauraS.Scott. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-58005-263-4 1.Childlessness.2.Childlessness--United States.3.Parenthood. I.Title. HQ755.8.S3662009 306.87--dc22 2009004841 98765432 | 31143口边
306。87 | 914以95的
SCot七 | | --- | --- | | | | | Scott, | Laura S. | | Two i | enough:a | | Couple⁹ | s guide to living | | childle | ss by choice | For my parents and for my husband,Robert一my beacons and my anchors. INTRODUCTION The Childless by Choice Project…………………………………………………1 CHAPTER 1 Who Are the Childless by Choice?………………………………………13 CHAPTER 2 The Dawning of Choice. …………………………………………25 CHAPTER 3 Assumption, Decision, or ………………………………………41 Something in Between?. CHAPTER 4 Eighteen Reasons(and More) Why We Don't Have Kids ………………………… ……………………………………75 CHAPTER 5 On the Same Page: Soul Mates,Partners, and ………………………………111 Best Friends……… CHAPTER 6 Marginal and Misunderstood: The Myths and 151 Realities of Living Childfree…………………………………………………… CHAPTER 7 Childless in Babyville: Navigating a . 171 Pronatalist World………………………… CHAPTER 8 ……………197 A Place at the Table. ………………………219 APPENDIX A.. ……………………………233 APPENDIX B.. ………………………239 NOTES.. …………………………247 RESOURCES. # The Childless by Choice Project “Sthe ned d,the tusand fone of ny tuend sds”asked Huh?“Love...companionship,”I blurted. His question startled me,rendering me uncharacteristi-cally short of words.I had just spent a year doing research inpreparation for what I hoped would be a book and documen-tary on the childless by choice,but nothing I had read preparedme for this question.He cocked his head and waited for more,his curiosity genuine. In that moment,I recognized just how strange I must haveseemed to him.Here was a person who could not imagine alife without kids trying to understand a person who could notimagine a life with kids.I was struggling to find the words toexplain why someone would choose a childless marriage,and“love”and“companionship”were all I could come up with.Itwas the most honest answer I could give,but it clearly did notsatisfy him,leaving me with the very distinct feeling that theunderlying question was “Is love enough?” Before I could elaborate,his wife called us to dinner,whichshe had thoughtfully scheduled between breastfeedings,andwe went on to other topics like film and writing,pursuits we all shared.After Ileft their home that evening,I began thinkingof all the other questions that had gone unasked and unan-swered: ·Is love enough to sustain a successful union,or arewe instinctually or otherwise compelled or obligat-ed to have kids? ·What motivates someone to forgo the experienceof parenthood? ·Can couples really find fulfillment and happinesswithout children? I could understand why parents might have difficultywrapping their brains around intentional childlessness.It wasstrange,even to me.Here I was,a healthy,happily marriedwoman,surrounded by parents and parents-to-be,yet I hadnever felt a pang of longing for a child.I enjoy spending timewith kids and I understand the appeal of children,but I've nev-er wanted one for myself. Like many of the decisions we make in life,my decision toremain childless was motivat

FAQs

What is the Childless by Choice Project introduced in the book?

The book introduces the Childless by Choice Project in the introduction as a foundation for understanding intentional childlessness through research and shared stories.

Why do some people choose a childless marriage?

The text highlights fear of regret, desire for love and companionship, and the possibility of choosing fulfillment without parenthood.

How does the book address myths and misconceptions about living childfree?

It explicitly includes a chapter focused on “Myths and Realities,” aiming to explain common misunderstandings and the lived realities of childfree living.

Aug 2, 2026

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