There is something you must understand; I do not hate children. On the contrary, I adore them.

My goodness, I volunteered with infants and toddlers at my church for more than two years; not to mention having a helping hand when it came to siblings or neighbors. At one point in time, I was even determined to major in child psychology and open my own daycare center; but that was before my eyes were opened. Even though I'm thankful to be apart of this evolving world, I would never want to raise a child in this day in age. What will life be like 20 years from now? Future generations will continue to be surrounded by violence, lust, anger, war, etc. What justifications can be made that says it’s OK to put another human being through this?

With Mother’s Day having recently passed, a couple points came to mind as I saw estranged offspring emerging from their hiding places, taking a quick second to call the parents they haven’t seen or spoke to in weeks. Shout-out to them for solidifying that:

Personally, I am not cut out to be a parent.

At times, I can be selfish, emotional, withdrawn, even reckless. Children need reliability and structure, something that I cannot promise. Understanding these qualities about myself is something to be treasured. Hoping that you’ll be a fantastic parent isn’t always the same as being one.

Women shouldn’t be judged for wanting something different.

It’s bizarre that society still demands women to reproduce, even if they aren’t fit to be parents. Are we still so caught up in the “American Dream” that our own aspirations should be shoved aside? It shouldn’t matter if you’re career oriented or family oriented, our decisions shouldn’t be questioned, second-guessed, or repressed because we aren’t choosing a path that society deems right.

And on that note, when making a statement as bold as this and still being relatively young, I hear time and time again that I'll "Change my mind once I meet the right guy," or "You’re so good with kids, why wouldn’t you want any?"

Both of these statements might be true, but when taking them into consideration, why should I sacrifice my wants and desires in order to make someone else happy? Sure, everyone wants a fairy-tale ending with their ideal mate, but I believe that my beliefs shouldn’t be compromised to the extent of unhappiness. In addition, why is it necessary for someone else to make me happy? Are we just empty vessels waiting for someone to come along and fill us up? How can I possibly give any love to another human being if I can't truly love myself? It makes no sense.

When trying to grasp the concept of their second question, fear comes into play. I am perfectly fine with babysitting all hours of the day. I love changing diapers and feeding little ones… that aren’t mine. Yes, I believe that children are blessings from God, each and every one of them; but the thought of having to take care of another human being for 18-plus years is daunting, terrifying even. Another living creature is your sole responsibility. Never truly knowing what they want or need, never knowing if you are good enough, or if they are happy enough. Why should I want to put any child through that torment, let alone myself?

For those that undertook us burdens, a thank you is in order.

A thank you to all the mothers that decided to take on this responsibility. Mother's Day has been designated as our time to say thank you, when it should continue well after one day of the year. Moms all over the world are superheroes that should be cherished at all times. They deserve a thank you for the diaper changes, the 3 a.m. feedings, all the potty wiping, for kissing our boo-boos, and listening to us when we are struggling to be heard. Someone had to do it, so thank you for stepping up.