I felt that one in my SOUL. I’m an only child in a Catholic home/school/community so not wanting kids is a very unpopular thing where I live. I’ve told my mom multiple times that I don’t want them and she along with other members of my family keep telling me that I’ll change my mind. I am 17. I’m not thinking about kids now (or ever).
First and foremost, I want a career in veterinary medicine. That is what I feel I am meant to do. Marriage is a maybe. I’m totally open to it, but if it doesn’t happen then it’s not a huge deal to me (which is also an unpopular mindset where I live). If I do get married, I will NOT be a housewife or a stay-at-home parent. Honestly, my salary will probably be more than that of my spouse. It’s also worth mentioning that wanting children is a HUGE dealbreaker for me in a relationship so I wouldn’t marry someone who expects me to bear/raise them.
Guess what? If the impossible happens and I change my mind, I will adopt because there are too many kids in my country without a home. That’s not good enough for them, apparently. But I don’t care! It’s my body, my finances, and my life! Also, biological relation is not important to me. For Christ’s sake, I have a stepdad who I see as a father!
If you want kids, that’s valid. As long as you can care for them, have them by whatever means you can (natural conception, adoption, IVF, surrogate, artificial insemination, stepchildren, etc.) It’s just not a life that I see myself having and I wish that more people would respect that.