Patricia Clarkson opens up about her decision of not having kids and remaining single

Matters such as the decision to marry or have children are deeply personal and subjective. No universal rulebook applies to everyone's circumstances. The most effective approach to understanding your own desires is to engage in a process of introspection. Initiate dialogues, pose inquiries, and respond candidly, devoid of judgment. While choices related to marriage can be amendable, parenthood carries an irreversible dimension. Therefore, if you choose this path, ensure that your choices are well-considered and executed thoughtfully and this advice is something that Patricia Clarkson agrees with completely.

The "Easy A" actress decided to skip the whole ordeal of getting married, settling down and having kids because she wanted to commit to the life she had built for herself in the acting space. When she sat with Bruce Bozzi on his podcast "Table For Two," she did so will the preparation to unfold all her cards. At age 63, she is more than happy about the path she chose. She believes that this is what she was meant to do and that she does that well. She says that there are lots of reasons as to why she loves being single and childless and the reasons will have you laughing and crying all at once.

Like every woman who chooses to live life at her own pace and time, she too receives a lot of criticism and judgment from society. Some believe that the reason for her being single and childless is due to the lack of a significant other in the picture. However, clarifying these rumors, Patricia said that she did in fact have the opportunity to settle down and start a family of her own when she was 38, dating an artist. However, after carefully thinking over it, she realized that she wasn't willing to give up on this amazing life she had built for herself. She wanted to focus on her career, and she did just that.

She said, "I made a big choice, but I knew it when I was young. I had a window to have a child, but at the end of the day I loved working, and I grew up with great parents who sacrificed everything for me." She further added, "You have to really be committed to having children. You have to be a great parent, and I was afraid I couldn't be. I'm fine failing as an actor. I didn't want to fail at being a parent." As heavy as it may sound, it surely is the kinder thing to do. There's no real point in getting a new life into this world if you are not going to be able to take care of them to the best of your capabilities.

When Patricia was younger, her mother had concerns too. She said, "My mother said, 'Patty, I just don't want you to wake up at 50 and be unhappy.' I woke up at 50 in stilettos and a thong! I've had a s*xy-a** life." Moreover, she loves being an aunt. All of her many sisters have kids, some of whom also have kids now. She loves being surrounded by them and says that being an aunt allows her to feel fulfilled. Adding to these feelings, she says, "I love being an aunt, I love it more than probably more than acting, which is odd. They're on par. But I'm telling you, these are gorgeous children, but that doesn't have to define every woman."

Patricia has made the choices that fit her life and heart. She's won awards for her splendid contributions to the entertainment industry, and she's as much a woman as the next one. "I love being an aunt, I love being a sister, I love being a daughter, I love being a great best friend. I'm a very good friend, I think. It's not what I wanted to define me because I didn't want to fail," she says talking about her choice to not become a parent. No woman should ever have to justify her personal choices to anyone, be it about marriage or kids. All we can say is, Bravo to Patricia Clarkson for opening up about these important topics and not only destigmatizing but also normalizing making choices for women same or different.