Podcasts · The Kids or Childfree Podcast

94. Amrita Vijay on When Platonic Life Partners Have a Child

· 1 h 19 min · S7 E94

Episode 94. Amrita Vijay on When Platonic Life Partners Have a Child

0:00 1:18:59

In this episode of the podcast, Keltie speaks with creative director, producer, musician, and writer, Amrita Vijay, about her decision to have a child with her platonic life partner, Andrew. You'll hear about:

• Why Amrita never wanted kids — and what made her change her mind • How Amrita and her gay best friend, Andrew, decided to become co-parents • How her and Andrew's unique relationship allows them to challenge traditional gender roles — and the pressures and expectations that still exist as a straight-presenting "couple" (who aren't actually a couple) • The importance of questioning societal expectations around marriage and family — and how doing so, can create new ways of having kids and experiencing family • What Andrew and Amrita's co-parenting relationship entails, and how they're navigating dating, future partners, and living arrangements

(0:46) Meet Amita and her Kids or Childfree decision (12:00)

(15:00) Deciding to have a kid with her platonic life partner

(28:41) Gender norms in parenting in a platonic relationship

(39:49) Legal and logistical framework

(52:04) Navigating outside opinions

(1:05:14) Reflections on parenthood

Mentioned in this episode: Find Amita on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vijayandstephens Her and Andrew's website is: emergencycontacts.substack.com Watch Amrita and Andrew's short film, LOOSELY — inspired by their decision to have kids together, and viewable on a private link here: https://vimeo.com/788430913/bc7f928154 Check out Amrita and Andrew's feature on Storyworth, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS_1ZCkQtJU

Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions

🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series

🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series

About Amrita: Amrita and Andrew are platonic life partners, artistic co-conspirators, and parents to a good baby. We write, we podcast, we broadcast, we produce, we sing, we create collaborative art onstage and onscreen — and, we reimagine family life as platonic co-parents to our son. All of these things contribute to our central vision, where direct, human connection is at the center. __

MORE HELP FOR YOUR KIDS OR CHILDFREE DECISION

Start Here: sign up for an upcoming WORKSHOP

🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/workshop

Join a GROUP PROGRAM

🔗 Kids or Childfree Group Program ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-program

🔗Confidently Childfree Group Intensive ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-group-intensive

Access an ON DEMAND class

🔗 Peruse the entire On Demand Collection ▸ https://www.kidsorchildfree.com/ondemand

Join one of our monthly SUPPORT SERIES sessions

🔗 Kids or Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/kids-or-childfree-support-series

🔗Confidently Childfree Support Series ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/confidently-childfree-support-series

Work with me in 1-on-1 COACHING

🔗 https://kidsorchildfree.com/coaching

FREE resources ▸ https://kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources

Links in the notes 10

The episode on the publisher’s site

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.