I’m 24. After the initial run of people I knew in school getting married at 19 and popping out a few kids, I didn’t know anyone who had kids. Now it seems like a lot of my friends, or people I’m becoming friends with, are having children. Most of my friends are a bit older than I am, about 27-35.
I like kids, but I’ve never pictured myself as a mother. It seems like so much pressure (there are so many ways to screw up!) and hassle. Is there a pull people feel that makes them want to have kids, that I’m not getting yet? I’m curious about what makes people decide that they would like to have children (I’m including adoption in this). Most of the new parents I know are a lot like me –we enjoy the same activities, parties, books, wines, etc. – and I just don’t Get It yet.
An older friend theorized that it’s because I’m single at the moment, but even so, while I can envision “marriage” as something I might like to do at some point, “+ kids” isn’t anywhere in my mental picture. Is that true for most people, and does that change later? Or has everyone with kids been excited about and planning for them their whole lives?
Enough women and couples in the UK are choosing not to have children that I’m not feeling pressured, just confused and curious.