[PhoenixAzul]

I'm getting married (6 months from today! w00t!), and I'm marrying an only child/miracle baby. His parents are fairly traditional...and desperate for a grandchild. But I have to confess, and I'll throw in my nomination for "terrible person of the year"...I hate babies. I hate children. Not in the "they should all die" way, but in the "holy crap taking care of another person that is absolutely dependent on me terrifies me to no end" way. I don't see a baby or toddler and think, "ohhh cute", I see them and go, "get it away! get it away!". The thought of being pregnant, giving birth, and breastfeeding seriously grosses me out.

I detest mommy culture. That whole "thing" where giving birth and being a mom is the highest achievement a woman can reach (wait, aren't I getting ready to start a doctorate!? doesn't that count for something?). And that your entire life should center around the baby. Just because I have ovaries, doesn't mean I have to use them!

Now, don't get me wrong, motherhood, and more importantly, parenthood, is awesome and important for society...for those who want it. My brother and his fiance really like kids, and are AWESOME with kids, and will otherwise be fantastic parents. So I'm hoping that they'll be blessed with as many as they'd like, when they like them.

I think the root of this is that these people pestering you for kids want BABIES. They don't want TODDLERS/KIDS/TEENAGERS. Like with puppies, people forget that they grow out of that cute/cuddly/ moldable stage very quickly, and grow into beings that need guideance and report card signing and driving lessons and screaming fights and braces and boundaries and....

So yeah, there you have it. Why I'm not having kids. Because I just don't. Depending on the person asking, my answer vaires from, "I don't like kids" to "We're not in a position to have them (lol)" to "What an incredibly rude question to ask, I'm not going to answer that (when I'm in a bad mood)". The last tactic usually throws people for a loop, but might actually get them to stop. bloody. asking.