The following words are different to the normally submissions. Different because the person in question is still trying to conceive and as such not the core demographic of World Childless Week. However her words express a side of lockdown that is relevant; something that has been highlighted in the news, but not necessarily met with compassion. She expresses her own childless pain.

I hope with all my heart that Sarah’s dream to be a mum comes true.

Stephanie Phillips, founder World Childless Week

Being childless during lockdown has been an invisible pain.

My office has been fantastic at supporting parents who are also going through a much more visible struggle. Normally I can separate my childless triggers from work. But every staff meeting and zoom call I’m on the parents are commiserating. (As they should!)

But nobody knows my IVF transfer was cancelled when my clinic shut down.

So when they turn and tell me I’m living the dream. It is so painful.

I worry my parents who are older will catch COVID and not ever get to be grandparents.

My office is now offering child care stipends. Which is wonderful!

But I’ve paid thousands of dollars for treatments without infertility insurance coverage.

Seeing our CEO post on Mother’s Day that it’s the best club to be a part of was incredibly and unintentionally hurtful.

Sarah