A transition of loss: What surveys reveal about young married women and motherhood
September 8, 2025
A few months ago, a student reached out to talk about something she was wrestling with in her personal life. She had been happily married for two years, was nearing college graduation and now faced the real possibility of starting a family. She had always wanted children, and loved being part of a large family, but was startled by her fear about how children might change her life.
What would a baby do to her sense of identity, her dreams of what she wanted to do and become, her deeply valued freedom and autonomy? Something she had looked forward to now felt threatening, like choosing a transition of loss.
