Being a 20-something-year-old woman can be hard. You are expected to do certain things, and want certain things to come into your life. One of those certain things is having children.
During this time period, you suddenly start seeing people talk about families in the future, or even some people beginning to plan one out. During dinner, your friends talk about how many kids they want someday and what age they want to start having them. As you sit there and listen to them talk, you start wondering if you even want kids. Then, they ask you the question...
"How many do you want?"
What if I want none? What if I don't want a life of raising a child, but instead be that amazing aunt that your niece or nephew always wants to visit? What if I want to travel the world instead, or just have 10 dogs?
"Oh, you will change your mind when you're older."
How do you know that? What if I don't change my mind? Does that make me less of a woman? Do I not have the maternal instincts I am supposed to have?
To the girl out there who doesn't know whether or not she wants kids, it's okay. It is okay to feel that the life of raising a family may not be for you. And it is okay to just not know right now. How are you supposed to know that you want to make a life-altering decision in the next 5 to 10 years? You probably don't even know what you want to do this weekend, let alone for the rest of your life. It is okay to not change your mind, and it is perfectly okay to change your mind. Maybe you just haven't met the right person you want to grow a family with. Maybe you have and you already know you don't want children.
You are not less of a woman than any other out there. You can still have motherly aspects to your personality, you will just utilize them in different ways. You can also have just as much of a fulfilled life as the woman next to you with three toddlers. Everyone has different wants and goals, and different lifestyles that will bring joy and happiness. There is nothing wrong with not wanting children, just as there is nothing wrong with wanting 3 boys and a girl. Don't feel guilty or bad for your decision, instead embrace your life and live it the way you want.
