All these years I said I didnt want children and everyone kept saying Id change my mind.
They were right, she wails.
You made a choice, Bridget tells her.
Photo: Shutterstock
Its a good choice for you.
Its not an unusual sentiment in the novel.
It feels, upon rereading it as a mother in 2024, like a startling revelation.
Inevitably, this means we feel inadequate in both areaswhich is certainly the case for Bridget.
A lot of Bridgets attitude toward motherhood also comes down to her singleness.
She fantasizes about what life would have been like if Mark were still alive.
It seems we are more aware than ever that parenthood is a choice and a privilege.
So why cant we be more open about the downsides of motherhood, too?
