Collecting stories

A close friend of mine is beautifully pregnant with only about 5 short weeks to go before becoming an awesome momma. With all the baby present buying, placing bets on whether it's going to be a boy or girl, and talk of baby names (and trying to make her feel guilty that she's not letting me in on the secret of the names they've picked out - I'm so incredibly curious!), I have babies on the brain. Personally, I don't want them. I don't see myself as a mom, I don't see myself taking on the massive task of raising kiddos, and I absolutely don't see myself walking around with a gigantic belly (although, I had this weird dream once...). Somehow my biological clock isn't ticking. At all! Every once in a while it bothers me a little. Sometimes it feels like everyone around me is either getting pregnant or talking about wanting to get pregnant and I feel like the odd one out. Why am I different? Why don't I feel the same way? But once those little moments are over, I mostly feel pretty happy with not wanting kids. I get to spend my life however I want. I get to spend all of my money on myself and don't have to spend a boatload of cash on a tiny person who depends on me. My boobs get to stay pretty and not used to feed someone (too much info? I'm sorry, it just makes me happy!). I also don't have to worry about finding the right guy in time. And if there happens to come a time when my uterus is starting to make deafening clock-like sounds after all, I'm okay with having kids a little later in life. I always used to think I'd better change my mind pretty quickly, because I didn't want to be old like my parents. They had their first child (me!) at 31. Which, of course, isn't that old at all! But I was young and annoying and I felt like my parents were ancient. My mom told me once that when she used to pick me up from school, some of the other moms thought she was there for her grandchild. So I felt I needed to have kids before I was 30 or not have them at all. Since then, however, I've come to appreciate my parents for being a little older (nowadays, 31 isn't old at all, but in those days most people started having babies in their twenties). I always like to listen to their stories of times from before I was born. Things they've experienced. People they've known. Heartaches they've been through. Happinesses they've enjoyed. Places they've travelled to. They had time to collect those stories before I (and a little later, my brother) came into their lives. I haven't collected nearly enough stories yet! There is still extremely much I want to see and do in my life. In the first place, obviously, for myself. But if I ever decide I do want children after all, I like the idea of being a little older and having a beautiful collection of stories to tell (and if I never change my mind, which I'm starting to suspect, I'll just annoy all of my friends' kids with my stories!).

Just to be sure:

Of course this little story isn't meant to offend anyone who decided to have kids a little younger than what I'm talking about here. I think you're awesome! And beautiful! And you rock! Perhaps I'm a little late in life with collecting my stories and you've already collected some great stories to tell (I'm jealous!). Perhaps you didn't want to be seen as a grandmother when picking up your kids from school. Anyway, this is just how I feel about my own life and it doesn't reflect one tiny bit how I feel about anyone elses choices and paths in life.