There are some girls who dream about becoming mothers. They can not wait to have children of their own to love and to spoil. They have lists of baby names in the notes app on their phone and a Pinterest board of nursery decor. And then there are some girls who simply don't. Whether they are in their teens or thirties, the reaction to women not wanting children is almost always an attempt to convince them they do.

"You'll change your mind someday!"

Personally, I don't see my perspective on motherhood changing and it's okay if you don't either. Whether someone is hell-bent on having kids or absolutely opposed to it, no one's attempts to convince them otherwise is going to be effective. More importantly is the fact that this response is rarely given to the men in society who don't want kids. A man without children is seen as a bachelor who is free of responsibilities while a woman doesn't even get the chance to be seen as anything else because everyone is too busy trying to persuade her.

"It's different when you're with someone you love."

It is absolutely absurd to enforce the idea that loving someone means any previous thoughts or feelings you once had suddenly don't matter or are overwhelmed by your relationship. Having children should be discussed well before deciding to spend the rest of your life with someone. Nobody should be under the impression that they have to please their partners desire to have kids in order to make a relationship work.

"Why not?"

The correct response is simply that it is no one else's business because to question someone's personal choices is not only rude but disrespectful. In all honesty, your life choices are exactly that, yours; they don't need to be justified to anyone else. Nobody but yourself and your partner need to know your past experiences or standards for the future that have led you to not want children.

And to those, that question and judge, don't. Having children is not the only way to have a family or a meaningful life. The next time you hear a woman say she doesn't wish to have kids, understand that it is not your place to persuade or question her motives.

There is nothing wrong with yearning to be a parent the same way there is nothing wrong with having absolutely no desire to. The world is full of so many beautiful experiences for us to submerge ourselves in and whether having children is one of them is entirely up to you. Don't allow others' quizzical expressions and prodding questions make you feel guilty for fulfilling your life the way you want to.