Death, Sex & Money Not Wanting Kids Cost Me My Marriage
Feb 24, 2026
Helena DeGroote, audio producer and creator of CBC’s Creation Myth, shares a deeply personal story about marriage, an unexpected pregnancy, abortion, and choosing not to have children. She recounts cultural clashes, career sacrifices, relationship unraveling, and the moment clarity forced an irreversible decision. Short, candid conversations explore doubt, autonomy, and how incompatible futures lead to a breakup.
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Whirlwind Road Trip Marriage Revealed Different Life Styles
- Helena fell into a whirlwind romance with David that ended with marriage after a two-week road trip through California.
- The trip exposed stark differences: David's risk-taking outdoors life versus Helena's preference for learning through books and safety.
Immigration Amplified Unequal Sacrifice In Marriage
- Moving countries exposed Helena's sense of loss and inequality when she realized she had given up more to join David in the U.S.
- She described feeling like a plant in the wrong soil, sparking anger about unequal sacrifices in the marriage.
Anger At Gendered Burden Shaped Her Rejection Of Motherhood
- Helena's refusal to be self-sacrificial and anger about pregnancy being borne only by women shaped her long-standing objection to motherhood.
- That visceral reaction included feeling she would live 'in the shadow' if she prioritized family over herself.