Front Burner The mother of all questions: do you want kids?
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Feb 16, 2026 Helena DeGroote, Belgian-born memoirist and narrator of Creation Myth, reflects on her choice not to have children and a life-changing relationship. She recounts meeting David, their early honesty about kids, the strain of conflicting desires, moments of doubt and caregiving, and a surprising pregnancy that upends everything.
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First-Date Declaration And Fast Marriage
- Helena met David in Paris and told him on their first date she didn't want kids.
- They married months later after a whirlwind romance despite that clear statement.
Doubt Versus Possibility
- Helena obsessively weighed the kid question through her twenties, torn between fear and curiosity.
- David's adventurous life offered a vision that made her consider different futures.
Dreams, Promises, And Moving Countries
- David dreamt Helena pregnant and convinced her to move to the U.S.; she warned him not to marry her if he wanted kids.
- He replied he'd rather be with her than have children, and they married at San Francisco City Hall.