As a child, I had told myself I never wanted to have my own kids. I grew up believing that having children will only hold me back, that taking care of little ones on a daily basis will complicate life. I told myself that my younger brother would be the one raising his own children one day. I was afraid of being an adult with too many responsibilities to be a fun loving and adventurous person. Plus it takes so much to be a parent; the responsibility is almost frightening. Imagine being the person that brings another life to this very populated world, being the person who decides upon the endless of choices of names that will title that child's life forever, being the person who introduces that child to any language, family, and culture. Perhaps this is what I am afraid of, becoming the one that will influence this unborn human's choices and values in life.
However, my whole life I have been told that I have motherly traits. In middle school, classmates would call me "Mother Kayla" because of my instinctive behavior and actions. I agree with that statement, I do act the way a mother should. I care deeply for people, in a way that shows my need to keep them safe and happy. I take care of those when they're injured or sick, or when they need some "motherly advice". Even my own mother has told me that I'd grow up to be a good parent. She told me last week that I have a way with children, that I can be gentle and kind to them, and still keep adult conversation with their parents at the same time. She tells me that perhaps becoming a teacher will be something to strive for, if I still don't want my own children as I age. I do enjoy babysitting too; it makes feel like a role model, and the one that can be trusted with the lives of children. That's simply it however, being the temporary parent of children.
I always thought that "stay-home moms" were lazy, that they made the fathers work while they spent time with their children. It's really disappointing how I thought this once; I realize now that these mothers choose to help develop their children's lives instead of their own. Sure, motherhood will make a woman grow as a person, but deciding to raise her own kin instead of working a dream job is anything but selfish or lazy. I think being a mother, or a parent in general, should be considered a profession. Especially since so many mothers have jobs, or multiple jobs, of their own and continue to be an active part in their children's lives. Making the choice to become a mother is as reasonable as wanting to become a doctor or a teacher, in my opinion.
