But What About the Children? Or Lack Thereof? (with Lizzette Soria)

When Ines Bellina decided to move back to Peru after living in the United States for 18 years, she could just pack up her bag and leave—because she didn’t have kids or a spouse to consider. But that doesn’t mean children don’t weigh on her or haven’t weighed on her throughout her adult life, especially now that she’s a cool aunt to two rambunctious nephews. In this episode, Ines explains how she realized she didn’t want kids, but also wonders if living in the United States had an outsize influence on her rejection of motherhood. Today, she is also wondering whether not having kids is having an outsize influence on her life in Lima. To gain some clarity, she chats with her friend Lizzette Soria who actually has experience raising her child in both countries, to get a glimpse into what could have been. Will Ines stay in Peru for her nephews? Or leave again to be the mysterious cool wine aunt the internet keeps celebrating?

Do you have a complicated relationship with home? I want to hear it! Email me at podcast@inesbellina.com

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Guests

Lizzete Soria is a gender expert whose work focuses on building bridges between global normative frameworks, policy and practice through local knowledge and innovation. She has more than ten years of experience developing and implementing gender transformative initiatives with UN Agencies, governments, academia, and women rights organizations. When away from her desk, Lizzette loves exploring cities and diverse neighborhoods on her bike.

Find But You Can’t Stay Here Online

- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/butyoucantstayherepod

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butyoucantstayherepod

Credits

- Creator & Host: Ines Bellina. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ines.bellina/ Newsletter: https://crankyguide.substack.com/

- Cover Art: Jimena Bellina. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellinartstudio/

About But You Can’t Stay Here

After 18 years in the United States, writer Ines Bellina moved back to her home country, Peru, swearing it was temporary. But she’s been in Lima for two years now and she needs to figure out whether she should stay for good or go back to the life she left behind. Follow Ines as she weighs that decision in real time by talking to experts, discussing with friends and family, and processing out loud with brutal honesty and a dash of humor what it would mean for her to really make a life in Peru.

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