The holiday season brings family gatherings for many. The older we get, the more we hear "when are you going to give me some grandchildren?" or "Make me some great nieces and nephews."

But times are changing and not everyone is cut out to be a parent.

Every day I wake up, go to school, work, and do whatever I have to do to secure my future career. I personally do not want children, yet I always hear "you just think that because you're young, you'll change your mind." But no I won't, and I'll tell you why. I am career oriented. I know I will not be able to raise my children with all the attention they will need because I am naturally a hard worker and will spend every hour trying to advance in career opportunities. I've seen too many people grow up with absent parent's and the last thing I want to do is do that to another human. So I don't want to have children, that isn't a decision that was made because I'm young, it's a decision I made because it's what I want.

Respect other people's decisions, don't try and pressure them, like it or not women are the ones who have to hold a child for 9 months, deal with the labor pains, stretch marks, and somehow spend the rest of their lives taking care of their kids with or without a spouse. I don't know about you but that sounds exhausting and I have such large respect for anyone who is able to do it, but just because we are women, doesn't mean the only thing we are made to do is have children.

Family members are not the only people who give women a hard time if they don't want kids. Friends can be just as difficult, it isn't fair to look at a woman and say, "you know, there are plenty of women out there who want children but can't have them, you can have them, but instead you take that for granted and refuse." Once again, that is our right as women to decide for ourselves. Real friends shouldn't make it an argument, and they should understand that it is your decision to not put your body through 9 months of growing another human inside you.

Being a parent isn't bad, some people find it so beautiful and rewarding, but again it isn't for everyone, and no one should ever have to feel bad for deciding they don't want to have kids.