It feels like a uniquely American capitalist take to assume these traditions will make you completely self sufficient. You need a lot of people, a lot of time, a lot of knowledge across a lot of subjects, and a lot of luck to provide for everyone's nutritional needs.

So should you even bother trying to be more self sufficient with your food? I argue yes. Foraging and gardening are fun and will teach you so much about many things. They are deeply rewarding activities that can supplement your diet. There are herbs I haven't bought in years because I grow my own. There are dishes I can only make with foraged ingredients because I can't get them in stores.

My biggest reason for gardening is to have the produce I want without having to worry about half of it going bad before I get to it. It's so rewarding to make meals out of something I grew, even if most of the ingredients are still store bought.

Really? Because I’m 24 years into adulthood now and all that extended time around kids does is reaffirm my choice over and over.

I’m not an asshole to or about kids. I love my sweet niblings with a ferocity that floors me. I’ll stand up for children’s rights in every way.

And yet

I’m so so so so so glad I’m not responsible for any of my own.

[Gross stuff about to be said warning] I just spent 3 hours on a plane w/ one kid by us puking from motion sickness. Another shrieked bloody murder for NOT KIDDING 2 HOURS W/O A BREAK. I watched one the other day lick the side of a public trash can. Another punched his dad in the nuts.

I’m so so so so so glad I don’t have kids. Grateful beyond words my experience with their bodily functions and emotional meltdowns are incidental at best.

That fact makes me feel free and euphoric and at peace.

That being said, I never actively wanted kids. Didn't actively NOT want kids, but never felt called to it. When I found out I was pregnant 2 weeks before my wedding, I was in panic mode. Wtf do we do?? Their dad said "I guess we're starting a family". I wasn't so sure, but just kind of went along like the decision had been made.

Despite the fact that they're turning out to be pretty awesome humans, my life has been orders of magnitude more difficult because of that non decision. It's been a major negative impact on my financial and mental health. I may be stronger for having come through it, but if I had my life to live again, I would've chosen differently.

It's good to listen to yourself and to know how you feel about it before you're faced with a critical decision.

Signed,

It seems like the older I get the more that people who are claiming to be adults too are younger and younger?

They’ll say stuff like “I was born in 2002” when that’s clearly a year babies were born…?

*Not limited to mammals