Model Minority Moms Ep110: To have a baby or not to have a baby, that is the question
Apr 25, 2025
Justine Ang Fonte, an award-winning sex educator and professor, reflects on her complex journey of deciding to have children. She discusses the emotional and societal pressures that accompany this choice, including her use of spreadsheets and therapy to navigate her decision. Justine shares insights into the evolving desires around parenthood and the impact of relationships on these choices. The conversation also touches on the importance of self-care and community support, especially for those contemplating their parenting paths.
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Justine's Changing Parenthood Vision
- Justine once wanted four children: two biological and two adopted, based on her childhood family experience.
- Her vision evolved after freezing eggs and dating struggles, making her question parenthood's feasibility.
Parenting Vision Shaped by Family
- Justine's desire for a big family countered her parents' small nuclear family, influenced by her parents' health constraints.
- Her early naivety about parenting came from having good role models and expected available support.
Fear of Parenthood Driven by Social Realities
- Justine faced doubt about parenthood not from trauma but from witnessing friends' marriage struggles.
- She valued co-parenting but feared losing freedom or identity due to poor partnerships or societal pressures on moms.