I've heard that babysitting and being in charge of children is a great "birth control." But for me, it only heightens my want for a family of my own in the future.
Growing up with a large family, I've always found the idea of having a family, a larger one to be exact, very appealing. I have many younger cousins on my mom's side, and now I am the aunt to three nieces and two nephews.
Last summer, I decided that I would be a camp counselor for the YMCA. I thought that this kind of a job would be a lot of fun. I was right in almost every way, but also wrong in a lot of ways too. Being a camp counselor is hard.
Having anywhere from 30 to 50 or more ten and eleven year olds in one group is stressful enough, what with trying to make sure you always have the right amount of kids and the right kids. Trying to keep them entertained is a whole other hassle. I may come home exhausted at the end of each day, but I wake up the next morning ready to go back to work with a smile on my face.
Why? The kids. They may not be perfect little angels all the time, but they show me my future in two ways. One: my future as a teacher. Two: my future as a parent.
I work in a position where I have children yelling, screaming, complaining, etc. at me all day, every day, but I am learning patience with them. I hope that I can show some of the same patience with my own children in the future.
I know that children will not always be happy go lucky and perfect little angels. I do not expect it, either. But knowing that I love my job working with children proves to me that I really do want a family of my own.
Some may think I am crazy for deciding I want my own horde of children someday based on being a counselor. But to them, I say, "Yes, I am crazy. But it's my life, and I will do what makes me happy."