Ever since I was little, I had it all planned out. I knew that I wanted to get married in my early to mid-twenties and then start having kids pretty much right away. It is so funny how as you grow up, your perspective really changes. When I was younger, I looked at my friends’ moms and thought that they were so cool because they were so young. (Even though my mom was not “old”). I just always thought that I wanted to be that super cool and fun, young mom. When you are a kid, you really don’t know what you're talking about…

Now, since I have been working at a daycare this summer and working with kids from ages 1 up to 10, I have realized I do not want to have children as soon as I thought. Now, do not get me wrong, I still love kids and I definitely want to have my own, but I am in no way rushing into that part of my life. Just the two months of working at daycare, I have learned how much work kids (of all ages) really are. I also have learned that I need to really work on my patience before that time comes.

Children can be really cute and funny sometimes, but they are also a lot of work. I keep telling people that this job is the best birth control I have ever experienced because I really do not plan to have kids for a long time. I also have decided I really would rather be married for a few years or more before we take that step, because we will never get that newlywed, new start feeling back again after we have kids, because it will completely change. I want to be able to travel, explore, focus on my work, maybe move to a new place and experience new things with my husband. I know that those things are possible with little ones running around, but definitely not as easy and more expensive.

I am so thankful for the job that I have and the experiences I am getting from it. I also love that I am learning about what I am ready for and what I am not ready for in life. Being a parent is not going to be at all about being cool and doing a better job at it than other moms. When the time comes that I am going to be a mom, my main role is to take care of my children and make sure that I do all that I can to give them the things that they need in life. I am thankful that I am waiting until I am older and ready to be a mother. I know that it is going to be an exciting time, but I am definitely not there yet.

I also am so thankful for my own mom, who I look up to more than anyone I know. She has been the best mom I could have asked for and has been with me through thick and thin, paying for the things I have needed, giving me the advice I need, praying for me, loving me always, telling me about Jesus. She is amazing and if I can be a mom half as good as her, my kids will be set. And, she definitely is one of the coolest moms I know!