Having a child is one of the most meaningful things you could possibly do with your life, whether your child is planned or not. Raising a child is clearly the single biggest responsibility we have as human beings. However, nowadays I am finding that being a "good" parent seems like an impossible and dangerous task.

It seems to me as though society has set parents up to fail. With all the killings, technology, and fake societal standards (for men and women alike), it just seems like being a parent is one of the hardest things someone can do. Not to mention having to have really hard conversations with children at younger ages because of all the issues dealt with in elementary schools.

Call me a pessimist, but I believe that, in your heart, you have to want this 100 percent, otherwise, the world of parenting will probably swallow you whole.

I am in no way, shape, or form a parenting expert, but I've been around children of many ages, and I have been able to see how parenting skills have had to adapt. Parents now have to have more serious talks with their children at younger ages about sex, violence, gender differences and other things because if they don't learn it at school they will surely see it in a show or even a cartoon.

I'm young and headed into my last year of college, and it seems like left and right my friends are just getting married and popping out children like it's a race or something. Not that there is anything wrong with that, in fact, they are the bravest of us all!

It seems as though women of the Christian faith feel like they have to follow a certain pattern:

Step 1: Go to a Christian College.

Step 2: Marry as young as possible.

Step 3: Make Christian babies.

I feel pressure while watching my peers go through these steps at age 21 and under, and it makes me wonder if there is something wrong with me because I have no desire for it at this moment, especially not the parenting aspect!

Some will argue that I need to have more faith in God so that I can become a good parent. While I believe this with all my heart, I also believe I am supposed to listen to the call he has for my life, and right now I feel as though children are not apart of that call.

That being said, I am not discouraging women from having children or even from having children at a young age. If you feel in your heart the desire to be a mother, than by all means, do it. I have so much respect for people who are 100 percent ready.

I just want to encourage women who feel as though they aren't "womanly" enough because having a baby is not necessarily at the top of their to-do list. Like I stated previously, raising another human being is the most important responsibility you can have, and if you don't feel like this is something for you, that is okay. You are more than your ability to carry children!