A review by prideandjoybooks
So When Are You Having Kids: The Definitive Guide for Those Who Aren't Sure If, When, or How They Want to Become Parents by Jordan Davidson
4.0
I love reading books that are unlike anything I've read before - and So When Are You Having Kids is definitely different, in a good way! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
While the content was sometimes overwhelming (not because of the book itself, but because personal reflection and family planning are generally a lot to think about), I really appreciate the topics covered. As a queer woman, I felt both seen and informed while reading this book. There was a lot that I liked (see below) and I would definitely recommend this book to folks in my life, regardless of identity. I do think there are some opportunities for improvement, but since the book hasn't been published yet and I'm not sure what will make it into the final copy, I will only share the positives for now:
What I liked about So When Are You Having Kids:
-Consistent queer, trans, and nonbinary rep
-Intersectionality of content/stories shared: race, class, gender, orientation (including ace/poly folks, which is rare), disability, religion
-The spotlight on the USA's history of eugenics and sterilization laws
-Naming the taboo - including that some folks regret having kids
-Inclusive language (i.e. birthing person, chestfeeding)
-The child-first lens to adopting/fostering, centering the story of those with that lived childhood experience
-The spotlight on how folks who do not want to be pregnant/be a parent are often dismissed
-Endometriosis rep
-Attachment style breakdown
-Normalizing experiencing and recovering from grief (in a variety of family planning situations)
-The oh so relatable, yet complex title
While the content was sometimes overwhelming (not because of the book itself, but because personal reflection and family planning are generally a lot to think about), I really appreciate the topics covered. As a queer woman, I felt both seen and informed while reading this book. There was a lot that I liked (see below) and I would definitely recommend this book to folks in my life, regardless of identity. I do think there are some opportunities for improvement, but since the book hasn't been published yet and I'm not sure what will make it into the final copy, I will only share the positives for now:
What I liked about So When Are You Having Kids:
-Consistent queer, trans, and nonbinary rep
-Intersectionality of content/stories shared: race, class, gender, orientation (including ace/poly folks, which is rare), disability, religion
-The spotlight on the USA's history of eugenics and sterilization laws
-Naming the taboo - including that some folks regret having kids
-Inclusive language (i.e. birthing person, chestfeeding)
-The child-first lens to adopting/fostering, centering the story of those with that lived childhood experience
-The spotlight on how folks who do not want to be pregnant/be a parent are often dismissed
-Endometriosis rep
-Attachment style breakdown
-Normalizing experiencing and recovering from grief (in a variety of family planning situations)
-The oh so relatable, yet complex title