“I'm perfectly okay with not being a mother”

Shortly after being born, I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. When you're disabled certain aspects of everyday life become much more difficult than that of the average person. As a child, I didn't really give a lot of thought as to how Cerebral Palsy would affect me one day becoming a mother. However, as I grew older, I learned that motherhood would make my life much more difficult. Pregnancy could also potentially be dangerous for both me and the baby. When I first heard that bad news, I was crushed, it broke my heart to realize that motherhood wasn't in my cards. Over the years, I found that even though it was sad, there are some positive aspects of not being a parent.

1. You have freedom

I've heard many stories about my friends, who are parents, want to go out on a "date night" with their spouse,or out with friends and they can't because they were unable to find a babysitter. Also if your hubby is anything like mine, he loves to take naps and binge watch a tv show on Netflix. Parents, especially to young children, do not have the luxury to spend a weekend napping, lounging, or Netflix-ing!

However, when your childless you have no timeline. If my hubby feels like sleeping until the afternoon and watching hours of Supernatural for the rest of the day, he can! If we feel like making plans and going out last minute, we do! I never really went out as a teenager much, so I like to get out of the house as much as I can now and it's easier to go places as an adult.

2. It is less expensive

Babies need clothes, diapers, wipes, formula (for non breastfeeding mothers) a high chair, car seat, stroller, toys the list goes on. It's safe to assume that as a child grows older the cost rises and there financial needs become greater. Most often parents end up sacrificing their own wants and needs for their child's benefit.

When you don't have children, you're more able to afford that shirt you liked at the the mall or you can afford to go out to eat on a random weeknight because you and your hubby don't feel like cooking. Personally, we were able to hire a cleaning lady every other week. That expense is something we wouldn't be able to afford if we had children.

3. I hardly ever get sick

Let's face it, babies and school-aged kids get sick a lot! Whether it be at day care or elementary school they are always the first in line to catch the latest stomach virus or flu that's going around. Typically once they bring it home it's like a domino effect, it spreads like wild fire infecting every member of the family.

Another perk of being childless is I have one less person coming home sick to potentially infect me. My hubby sometimes brings home a little cold but it's been around 4 years since I had a stomach virus.

4. A child is never too far away.

Being that I'm 28 years old, almost everyone around me has children. I'm blessed to have two biological nieces, as well as two girls that I consider my nieces because of the close relationship I have with their mothers. Also, many of my hubby's friends have kids as well. So when I'm feeling down and I miss the little pitter-patter of tiny feet running around the house or when my house gets too quiet, I simply get on my phone and schedule a day to get my dose of children. I like to think of it as I get the "best of both worlds" because when I see the little ones all I have to do is play and laugh with them. Then I get to go home and still have my freedom.

So if someday you learn that motherhood is not in your future try to remember that's not always a bad thing.