I wonder if, for some of these women, that’s exactly the point. As darling as babies are, as much reward as there is in parenthood, there is a great deal of work and unpleasantness mixed in. These women have taken out the work of motherhood by taking out the child. Dolls don’t get you up in the night or need diaper changes or become inexplicably inconsolable.
It’s pretend motherhood, and nothing’s real. There’s no baby, no sacrifice, no reward.
“It’s pretend motherhood, and nothing’s real. There’s no baby, no sacrifice, no reward.”
Exactly. No true inconvenience or expense. Just “grown-up” playing with dolls time.