Many involuntarily childless women take on caregiving/caring responsibilities within their families of origin, yet their experiences are often overlooked. This webinar explores the diverse ways involuntarily childless women experience caregiving/caring within these family systems, including how motivations, expectations, relationships, and family roles can shape those experiences.
DATE: Thursday 17th September
TIME: 2.00pm BST - Find your timezone HERE
REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR HERE
Please note: Whilst the panellists will be recorded, your camera and audio will be turned off. If you are unable to attend the webinar live, you DO NOT need to register to watch the replay. Just subscribe to the World Childless Week YouTube channel and you’ll be notified when new recordings are added.
PANELLISTS
Sandra (Sandy) Sjollema (PhD) - Canada
Sandy is an activist, writer, and researcher whose work is grounded in her dedication to community and social justice. She has written articles, essays, and poetry for childless communities,
including World Childless Week, and enjoys connecting with others through webinars and podcasts. As a queer person, Sandy presently volunteers as the moderator of the LGBTQIA+ group for the online Childless Collective where she helps cultivate community and mutual support. Sandy previously provided care to her parents when they were terminally ill. She lives with her spouse and their cat Shulamis in Montréal, Canada.
Lori Bianco - Canada
I realized that motherhood might not be in the cards when my first (and only) pregnancy ended in stillbirth at 26 weeks in August 1998. Subsequent infertility treatments were unsuccessful and in 2001, at age 40, my husband and I decided to continue to
live without children. I was fortunate to find some online support and became one of the first bloggers writing about involuntary childlessness in 2007 at The Road Less Travelled. I’m 65 years old now, a proud auntie and great auntie, retired from my longtime job in corporate communications, and living in a condo in suburban Toronto.
My life is very different from what I imagined, growing up - but it’s still a good life! My only sibling is childfree by choice and has been the main caregiver for our parents in recent years, but I help from afar and with visits when I can.
Lu Ismail - UK
Lu is a family carer. She cared for her father until his passing in 2025 and now cares for her disabled elderly mother. In a previous life, Lu was a music teacher and singer/songwriter. However, due to severe endometriosis, and the accompanying constant pain, she had to give up working.
Lu joined the childless community in 2020 after living a very isolated life for nearly a decade. Joining Gateway, later the Childless Collective, changed her life completely. She has made many friends and now has a virtual support system and social life. Lu is currently co-host of the Nomo club in the Childless Collective. This involves creating posts and engaging with members to help people feel the benefit of the community. Lu felt that she wanted to give something back to the community that has helped her so much.
Karen Morrione - USA
Karen is a happily married pet mom as well as a daughter caring full time for her 91-year-old mother (with help from her husband and community of friends and family). She has worked in public health as a health communications specialist for 23 years. She loves reading, knitting, cooking (and eating!) as well as spending time with loved ones.
