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TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED

Program 07-05-20-B

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Peggy Orenstein didn't want children. At least she didn't think so. Children killed careers and turned smart, professional women into drones. Well, that's what Orenstein was afraid of, anyway. But after a death in the family, she changed her mind. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, to breed or not to breed? Stories about birth, adoption, and the childless revolution.

SEGMENT 1:

Journalist Peggy Orenstein has written a memoir called "Waiting for Daisy." She tells Jim Fleming about her ambivalence about having children, her difficulties becoming pregnant, and her adventures with fertility treatments.

SEGMENT 2:

Madelyn Cain is the author of "The Childless Revolution." She tells Jim Fleming that many women choose not to have children because they know they are not good enough at nurturing. She thinks this is an admirable, unselfish decision and one that more and more couples will make in the future. Also, Catherine Wagner is the co-editor, (with Rebecca Wolff) of the anthology "Not for Mothers Only." She talks with Steve Paulson about aspects of mothering and reads several poems from the book.

SEGMENT 3:

A.M. Homes was adopted as a newborn. When she was 31, her biological mother made contact, launching the writer on a years-long quest into her identity. She talks about it in her memoir, "The Mistress's Daughter" and in this conversation with Anne Strainchamps.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-05-20-B.

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Books:

A.M. Homes, The Mistress's Daughter (Penguin)
Peggy Orenstein, Waiting for Daisy (Bloomsbury)

Music:

• After Madelyn Cain:
  Scrambe from "Pathways"/California Guitar Trio/ DGM
  
• After Catherine Wagner:
  Coast to Coast from "Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Smith Tribute by Christopher O'Riley"/ World Villag

Distribution dates: week of 04/06/2008 - hour 2 week of 05/20/2007 - hour 2

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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