The Random and Questionable

At 14, I told my guidance counselor that I didn’t want kids. He chuckled, patted me on the back, and informed me that when I got a little older, and I was with a guy, I would change my mind.

At 16, my grandmother nearly had a heart attack because of her three granddaughters, myself and the youngest agreed we didn’t want to uave babies. Ever.

At 17, my father asked about my life plan. I told him: graduate high school, get my college degree, do some traveling and writing, go for this particular job I wanted, retired around X age, take month-long vacations to places I wanted to spend time in, etc. He asked, “What about a husband? Children? Normal things a girl is supposed to think about?” My response- a husband if a man came along that could share an adventure with me, kids were a No Go. He assured me I would ‘grow up’ qnd change my mind.

At 19, I shocked my former babysitter who had known me since I was a toddler, when I confirmed the rumour she’d heard that I didn’t want kids. She patted my mom’s arm and reassured her in a sweet voice that, “Don’t worry, girls say a lot of silly things before they meet the right fella, and wise up. She’ll give you grand babies”

At 22, I was talking to a college professor who chuckled at my making a comment about how, “thank goodness I’m never going to have to worry about juggling child rearing eith marriage, work, and life”, then she realized I was serious. She asked if I was alright, thinking I could-not (not didn’t-want) kids. I told her the truth, could have but didn’t want to. She was aghast, then told me that I’d change my mind when my husband wanted some kids.

Well, I’m over 30, still have absolutely no desire to give birth, adopt, raise, or have much of anything to do with children. I don’t hate children, I don’t think people who have them are crazy (more power to you, to create and/or care for another person), and I don’t think it’s impossible to have a life AND have children. I recognized at an early age that I don’t have that biological imperative to procreate, I don’t have the patience to deal with children (something that has shown very little improvement as I’ve gotten older, in fact it might be getting worse), and I don’t feel my life is incomplete without creating another life- I am good with living my own and doing my best to enrich the lives of those I care about (I try my best to be a good friend, to be a good sister, good daughter, good pet-owner, and a good person in general).

So please, please stop telling girls (or really kids at all, but especially girls) that they will change their minds. Please don’t tell them that meeting ‘the right guy’ will make them suddenly feel broody, that their potential future husband’s desire to have children will make her reconsider and see things his way. For one, a couple should have had that conversation and decided if it was a deal breaker, LONG before they got hitched. For another, it’s her body that gets to grow and birth another human being- her husband’s desire to be a father doesn’t supercede her autonomy.

Please, let girls make their own choices? Girls are forced to mature too fast as it is and are bombarded from all sides with SHOULD (you SHOULD be a size 2, you SHOULD wear this dress, you SHOULD have a boyfriend to be a normal teen, you SHOULD always smile), they don’t need another judgement from someone who hasn’t walked a mile in their particular shoes. Respect teenage girls and their ability to look at the world, themselves, their situation, and their future, and make an important choice.

*gets off soap box, slides it back under the sofa, lets out a sigh*

*At age 6, my 1st grade teacher had me write out "what I want to be when I grow up" form. I said I wanted to be a teacher and a mom.

*Teenagerhood, I was more comfortable being in the nursery helping mom with babies than I was going to Sunday School with kids my own age. I volunteered for reading and aid programs not just with littles but also special needs kids.

*College, went into the education program to each Early childhood thru 6th grade kiddos. Found myself gradually pulled towards older kids and not littles but I was too far into my major to change without losing a year of work. Note, still looking for 'the one' to marry and make babies with.

*Graduated and moved in with boyfriend and had a shit ton of animals instead of babies. Started substitute teaching but kept getting into trouble for talking to small children like people instead of babies.

*Ended up married and in a toxic relationship, miscarried, and ended up in a lot if debt and burned out on teaching.

*30s, now happily divorced and single again. I have no kids, I'll be debt free in 5 months and saving to buy a place of my own, travel, and have adventures. And I'm OKAY not having kids or a husband.

Learning to be comfortable by yourself and single is just as important. If I find a husband, that's nice but marrying and trying to start a family just because everyone else you know is, is NOT a reason to get married and make babies.

I still love kids, and if I end up with one (biologically or not) I will love them til my dying breath, but I've learned not to make that a goal like it was when I was a kid. There is so much of this world to love even if I'm by myself doing it.