news flash: you don't have to have children.

Mother’s Day sucked this year.

I know it’s just a Hallmark holiday and I shouldn’t get caught up in feeling unappreciated in the thankless role of motherhood…BUT…I completely gave up my body to my children for over 3 years! I found out I was pregnant with “thing 2” while I was weaning “Thing 1” and then I breast fed “thing 2” till she was roly-poly and growin’ teeth! That little bit is only the tip of the iceberg on being a mother.

I am so thankful for being blessed with my 2 crazy babes, but I sometimes wished that someone would have pulled me aside and told me that I didn’t have to have children.

Growing up in the Midwest you get a feel for what your life is “supposed” to look like.

Matter of fact, if you are a 30something married couple, living in the Midwest, that hasn’t had children yet, someone is looking at you thinking that something must be wrong with you. They think:

Maybe something is wrong with his/her plumbing? or even

She/He must have some emotional issues…

But I am here to tell you my friend; You do not have to have children to have a completely fulfilling life here.

Being a parent is not the life completing role that everyone makes it out to be.

And, it shouldn’t be.

Those of us that have children feel so much pressure to make sure that we are doing everything that we can to make sure we are raising our children right that we have a tendency to make them the center of our lives. (Myself included here.) Making the role of parenthood out to look like the most significant thing we do here on earth.

Honestly, I personally don’t have much more energy left for anything else.. 

But I want to be a good friend to those of you in this world that haven’t decided to have children yet but may still be feeling the pressure:

Life can be wonderful and fulfilling to completely throw yourself into whatever feels significant and worthy of your time and not produce children just because society makes you believe that that is the next thing that you have to do. You can make an impact on this earth in so many different ways, please know that you have so much to offer this world, without adding children. Know yourself first and put your energy into what will be best for you and it will be fulfilling,