{"product_id":"instead-navigating-the-adventures-of-a-childfree-life-a-memoir","title":"Instead: Navigating the Adventures of a Childfree Life - A Memoir","description":"A compelling memoir about opting for adventure instead of motherhood, and the lifelong outcomes of that choice.\nInstead captures Maria Coffey’s adventurous life through her biggest decisions along the way, including the decision not to have children. It’s a vivid travelogue, a love story, and a personal commentary on the risks and rewards of choosing unconventional paths.\nAfter two traumatic experiences during her twenties – a near-drowning in Morocco and her boyfriend’s death on Mount Everest – Maria determines to seize every day and explore the world. Mixed with her desire for freedom is a new fear of loss, which convinces her against parenthood. She falls in love with Dag, who shares her dreams, and they begin creating a life of adventure. There is one snag: he wants children and thinks they could include them in their wild exploits.\nInstead follows Maria’s trajectory as she shares her guilt-ridden relationship with her Irish Catholic mother; her baby debates with Dag in unlikely situations, like kayaking through a storm; the doubts that rear up in remote cultures where her childfree choice is unfathomable; and how children eventually – and surprisingly – come into her life.\nAn adventure story with a unique twist, Instead tackles the universal themes of choice and consequence, agency versus fate. It is a must read for anyone curious about stepping off the beaten track, and a testament to the power of being open to the unexpected.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 1771606401\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.1771606401.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Coffey, Maria\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41703530233914,"sku":"DBV.1771606401.G","price":11.87,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/1771606401-0.jpg?v=1790391703","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/instead-navigating-the-adventures-of-a-childfree-life-a-memoir","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}