*Spoiler Alert* Unpopular opinion for those who favor babies…Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
If you know me, or have ever seen me around a baby…I’m beside myself. It’s evidently clear that they (babies) make me uncomfortable. They always have and always will. I’m not one to stare in awe or ask to hold your small human taco. I’m nearly 22 years old, and I firmly believe that babies put a damper on life. They are probably the bane of my existence, my kryptonite, if you will.
I scroll through my social media feeds and scroll faster during pregnancy announcements and obsessive updates and photos of bellies, or newborn photo-shoots and I look like I’m a grumpy cat wannabe. Babies are small, over-emotional, smelly menaces.
Millennial women are taking a stand, straying from the traditional path and putting growing a family on hold, perhaps even for good. If you’re a person like me, babies were never in your plans or a thought in your mind. My maternal instincts aren’t there…and that’s OK.
I’m among many women, mainly from my generation that believe that babies are life-ruiners. My standpoint may be highly frowned upon by those who love babies, or those who have a traditional mindset like my grandfather for instance, who has been pushing great-grandchildren for years:
"Please give my love to the girls. Also remind them that I am not getting any younger and would welcome a great-grandchild. SO GET WITH IT!! All my love, Grandpa."
Sorry, Grandpa! That lifestyle does not, nor will it ever, suit me.
Life has become too expensive and I’ve worked too hard to be mistreated even more by taking maternity leave, or widening the wage gap because women are more likely to need more time off because of…BABIES.
I often get responses along the lines of “How can you say that you never want children?”
Pregnancy is scary, painful, as is childbirth. So, I will take a hard pass on that experience, I’ll leave it someone else. I’ll interact with your ‘bundles-of-joy’ when they’re about 20 years old.
“You were a baby too! You’ll want them some day.”
“Children are a blessing, what a shame.”
Rude. Just rude.
So, because I don’t want children, I should be ashamed of myself because I’m not fulfilling my 'duty' as a woman? I’m trying to fulfill my 'duty' as an active person in society, trying to gain equality in and out of a work-environment. Please, take your negativity and rude comments elsewhere.
I’m not saying other women shouldn’t have children, I don’t have control over those women who want them/have them, the only woman I have control over is myself. Children can be a blessing if both parents have the patience of a saint, and if the kids are raised with equal parts discipline, praise and love.
They may be a blessing for certain people, but to me, personally, they’re a buzzkill. Women are becoming more focused on their own careers, since when is that a bad thing? So, as a direct effect of focusing on their jobs, fewer babies are being born.
For now and forever, my bundle of joy is my dog and my diploma!
