If you don't have kids, you've probably noticed the words childfree and childless everywhere.

They show up on social media, in podcasts, in articles, in movies, and in conversations about women's lives after infertility. And even if no one has ever asked you directly how you identify, you've likely felt something when you hear those terms used.

Maybe you pause.
Maybe you feel tension.
Maybe you think, I don't know how I feel about that.

In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, you slow that moment down and look at what's really happening underneath the words.

This conversation is not about choosing the "right" label. It is about understanding the meaning you are giving to the terms childfree and childless, and deciding whether that meaning actually supports the woman you are becoming after infertility or IVF did not result in a child.

You explore why identity feels so tender after fertility treatments end, why language can feel so loaded, and how a single word can start to feel like it is being asked to explain your grief, your growth, your peace, and your future all at once.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why the term childfree can feel empowering for some women and completely misaligned for others.

• Why the word childless can feel truthful while still carrying old stories of disappointment or being perceived as less than.

• How some women reclaim their lives without kids by changing the word they use.

• How other women reclaim their lives without kids by keeping the same word and changing what it means to them.

• Why you are not reacting to the word itself, but to the meaning you believe the word gives you.

• How you get to decide how much power any label has over you.

You will also hear Lana share why she personally identifies as childless, and how that word honors the truth of wanting motherhood while still reflecting a full, meaningful life without children.

Most importantly, this episode reminds you that whether you identify as childfree or childless, you have permission to feel proud of the woman you are. Proud of how you kept going. Proud of how you learned to hold complexity. Proud of the life you are building, even if it looks different than you once imagined.

You are not your terminology.
You are not unfinished.
You are not behind.
You are not less than.

You are whole.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

The Other's Day® Brunch
A beautiful, connective event for women without children, happening May 9, with a special Friday night experience added this year.
Check for updates or join the waitlist here:
👉 https://lanamanikowski.com/othersday

Free Resource: Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless and How to Respond
If you have ever found yourself navigating unsolicited advice, intrusive questions, or "helpful" suggestions about becoming a mom, this guide is for you.
Download it for free here:
👉 https://lanamanikowski.com/thingspeoplesay

If this episode resonated with you, make sure you are subscribed to The "So Now What?" Podcast so you do not miss future conversations about navigating life after infertility and building a meaningful, grounded future without the children you dreamed of.

I hope you have a beautiful week. I love you, and remember that it is never too late to discover your meaning.