I realize it has been nearly a year since I updated my blog. Mainly that is because I've been super busy with life (teaching, welcoming my husband home from Afghanistan, being an FRG leader and finishing my master's degree). Now that it is summer, I have more time to do things like blog, sleep, shop, lay out at the pool etc... so thus the return of my blog! The other reason I decided to blog again is because of an issue I need to get off my chest.......the fact that I don't have kids! (and I'm happy about it!)
I currently live in Clarksville, TN. This is a small southern town mixed with a military town. Those of you who have never lived in a military town may not know this but...military folks have lots of kids! I don't want to get off on the wrong foot...I LOVE all of my friends with kids and I think their kids are GREAT! I just personally don't want any of my own just yet...
Living in a military town, where most women have several kids, makes people assume that I, a 27 year old officer's wife would have some children. Upon meeting someone, inevitably one of the first questions out of their mouths is "so, how many kids do you have?" I always respond "none" to which they always ask "well are you trying? When are you going to have kids?" I understand that people are just trying to make conversation but I've hit my braking point with these kinds of questions! By the way, just so none of you have to ask me, the answer to that question is, always has been, and always will be...When Chris and I are 30 we will start thinking about starting a family... and we want 2 kids so that gives us plenty of time.
Yesterday, I was at the pool and I met a new neighbor (who was with her 7 year old daughter). She, of course, asked if I had any kids and I said no. Her next statemnt to me was "well, you're still young you have time...how old are you?" I nodded and said "yes, I am still young, I'm 27." Sh looked at me like I had said I was 65 and responded "Oh!" This was not an "Oh" as in Oh OK....No, this was an "Oh!" as in wow you're really old I can't believe you don't have kids yet, you better get started right now! It REALLY irked me!
Yes, I'm 27 and I don't have kids and guess what??? I don't want any right now! In fact, hardly ANY of my other 27 year old friends outside of the military have kids and we're all ok with it! (the close friends of mine that DO have kids have been married for 5 years so for them, it was a good time :) I almost just wanted to yell at that lady and say "look here...yes I'm 27...that means I still have 8 or so good years to have children. Not to mention the fact that I've only been married for 2 years, 1 of which my husband was deployed to Afghanistan! So really, if you think about it, we are STILL NEWLYWEDS! We have truly only been "together" for 1 year of our marriage! So I think it is perfectly acceptable for us to not have kids and not want any yet! We still want time to just enjoy being together, just the 2 of us!"
As previously stated, I have nothing against those who have kids. I think all of my friends' kids are very cute! I think there is a right time for everyone to start a family and that time is different for everyone. I respect the fact that others chose to have kids earlier in life so can everyone please respect the fact that I'd like to wait??? (by the way, it's not my friends with kids who have influenced this rant but rather those who I don't know well who have children and I can't believe that I don't!)
If you're still reading this rant I do appreciate it! Now, that I've gotten all of this off of my chest, I'm going to focus on our upcoming vacation to Charleston and Savannah! I can't wait to be in the low country eating She Crab Soup and Shrimp and Grits, enjoying the beach, seeing some friends and my sister and of course celebrating the 4th of July! And to think...I get to enjoy all of this trip without having to worry about planning family friendly events, changing diapers, waking up early and/or getting babysitters :)
