Stephanie, 38: 'I didn't want to wait for the perfect love story to become a mother'
Stephanie never met the person she imagined building a family with. At 38, she chose to stop waiting.
'I grew up thinking motherhood was my priority. At 35, still single, I started to panic. Then I asked myself: why should my happiness depend on meeting someone? At 38, I started fertility treatment with a donor. My daughter is now 14 months old. It isn't the path I imagined as a child, but it's mine, and I wouldn't change a thing.'
— Stephanie, 38, Bordeaux
The turning point: no longer waiting
'The real turning point came from a friend who told me: you're waiting for a scenario that might never happen. I thought about it for months. I eventually consulted a fertility clinic to understand my options: sperm bank, known donor, or co-parenting.'
Choosing fertility treatment
'I chose treatment with an anonymous donor because I wanted to keep full responsibility for raising my child. It took two attempts and a lot of patience, but it was worth it.'
Other people's reactions
'My family took time to understand. Today, everyone adores my daughter and no one questions the choice anymore. I think attitudes around solo motherhood are changing fast.'
Would you be ready to become a mother without waiting for the ideal partner?