More often than not, when I tell someone that I'm not interested in having children I get the look that you probably receive if you've kicked a puppy or told a middle schooler that you think Zac Efron in "High School Musical" is relatively unattractive. After explaining myself, I've been dismissed, patronized and told that, as a woman, I need, or should at least want, to procreate and have a lot of little "mes" running around.

I've been told that, "You'll change your mind someday," or that "When I was your age I thought that too," or the ever so lovely, "It's different when it's your child and you wouldn't understand." Whoa, wait a minute, hold up. I shouldn't have to do anything. I shouldn't be forced to say that maybe someday I'll want children. It is my decision, not the decision of the society around me.

Now, I'm not saying that I haven't thought about it. I'm not saying that I haven't mashed my face with Pete Wentz to see what our spawn would look like, because I totally have and I was incredibly disappointed. That need has been satisfied, and I no longer have the desire to imagine what a tiny version of myself would look like.

Because of the feedback I've received on this issue, I just want to clear a few things up and maybe open the door for a new discussion, a different discussion. One that encourages women to follow their dream, even if those dreams don't include children. In all honesty, I'm not particularly fond of children. I don't like not knowing what's going on, the screaming and crying with no instructions aren't something I'm fond of, and I'm not interested in being thrown up on. But that doesn't mean that I hate children. I may say that I do, but that doesn't mean I won't coo over a new baby or hold a small child every once in a while. They're honestly pretty cute, but they're not for me. They make me uncomfortable.

The idea of being responsible for another small human and their physical and emotional well-being scares the shit out of me, especially when I'm not so sure that I can take care of myself. It terrifies me that I would have to care for a crying infant who can't explain their anguish to me. I don't recognize my own emotional struggles, and I would have no idea how to deal with a human being as small and needy as a baby. This may sound harsh, but I am not, and never will be, mature enough to care for another human life.

I don't want to have to organize my professional and personal lifestyle and finances around a child for 21 or more years. My dream job is to work for a publishing company, and to work five or six long days a week doing what I love. I want to travel and see the world, to explore and adventure. My lifestyle and my future lifestyle are not an environment for a child to grow up in. It's not fair for a child to be bounced around from city to city and school to school being forced to make new friends. But this doesn't mean that I won't be a rockin' aunt who brings awesome gifts from her adventures to family Christmas. I'm excited for my future nieces and nephews. As selfish as this may seem, I'm not interested in anything to do with putting a hold on my dream for someone else.

I don't want to screw up my child's life because of shitty parenting. I do not have a motherly instinct, and I don't think I ever will. I'd rather not conform to society by having a child but raising it in an environment that is not healthy for it's development. I'd rather continue my childless lifestyle and leave the parenting to someone who is a great fit.

The bottom line is this: I just don't want kids

However... this doesn't mean that I am a monster. I would never intentionally harm a child or be mean to them aside from the occasional prank or scare. I love other people's children. Some of the most exciting times in my life have revolved around the children that I babysit or the kids that I have in my life. I can understand why people love children. Some of my dearest friends have a wonderful motherly instinct and are already amazing mothers or fathers or will someday make amazing mothers or fathers. I also completely understand the struggles of some couples and their struggles to conceive. I would never intentionally insult or belittle these individuals, because, again, some of my closest friends struggle to make their dream of having a family a reality. I will continue to support their decision to have children until this dream comes true. I don't think less of anyone who would like to have kids or who already have kids. It's just not for me.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's my decision whether or not I would like to have children someday. Whether I change my mind or not is up to me, and it's sometimes hurtful that other people try to convince me otherwise. For those of you who are friends and family, next time you hear me say "I don't think I'm going to have children" please don't try to persuade me to give an answer you'd like to hear. Please support my decision and subsequently look and the ten pictures of my dog in a sweater that I'll be showing you.

Have a baby? Thanks, but no thanks.