The Contra Costa Times of California ran an article about women who choose or find themselves childless. The psychologists in the article say there is a period of sadness when a woman’s biological clock runs out and she does not grieve what could have been.

"Grief in its simplest form is unresolved emotion," says Bobby Rodriguez-Havens, executive director of the nonprofit Open Path, formerly Resolve. Open Path offers grief counseling to women who, as Rodriguez-Havens explains, lined their ducks up expecting a child to be automatic, and it didn't turn out that way.

"They question, 'Why haven't I met anyone? Should I have not gone for the MBA? Should I have married that guy in college?'" Rodriguez-Havens says. "When you don't deal with these emotions, you end up replaying the grief in your life in different ways."

What I liked about this story is the women mentioned in the article were strong, happy, and successful, not pathetic creatures waiting for Mr. Right and gorging on bonbons. They found an outlet for their nurturing instincts. One woman became a foster mother in her 40s and is about to adopt that child. Another woman chose to volunteer in a third grade classroom.

Lauren Edwards, of San Leandro, deals with her grief. A successful corporate writing coach, Edwards never wanted children, at least not in her 20s. So, at 22, she met and married a man who shared the sentiment. At 31, however, things began to change.

Edwards' biological clock went off, she says, and every lovely sunset made her yearn for the experience of sharing its beauty with a baby.

The phase ended, however. And six years ago, so did Edwards' marriage. Now, at 46, she says she has healed from the divorce, but the memories of pain and sadness are reminders of her decision.

"At the time of the divorce, I felt that choice had been robbed from me," she says. "Had I been married to someone else at 31, I'd probably have a child now. And I'd never guessed I'd feel so alone."

Edwards copes by volunteering at an elementary school in Oakland on Fridays. She works with third-graders who fill her up, she says. It's her favorite day of the week.

Fortunately, the stigma of having children later in life is gone. Also, there are more ways than ever to conceive: artificial insemination, IVF, surrogate motherhood and, of course, adoption. And one need not be a mother to care for so many people who need it in our society whether it be senior citizens or children with no or inadequate care. Good deal.