In the old days, society expected women to marry and have kids. If you didn’t do either of those things, people might regard you as strange. They believed women should want those things more than anything else, and if you didn’t, you were some sort of rebel.
However, these days, most people understand that marriage and kids are not everything. Some women still follow that path, but just as many prioritize career over childrearing or elect not to marry. Society does not frown on it nearly as much as it once did.
Still, if you’re a woman of childbearing age, you should at least consider whether or not to have kids while you can. Here are some reasons you may decide to bring a child into your life.
Your Parents Want Grandchildren
Your parents might have all kinds of childcare advice for you. Your mom might tell you that if you have a baby younger than four months, you need to take them to the hospital if they have a fever higher than 100.4. They may tell you about what to do with a colicky baby or one who won’t stop sucking their thumb.
If you never have kids, you’ll never use all that advice. You might decide to get pregnant if:
- You know your parents want grandchildren very much, and you want that for them as well
- You’re sure they can help you during the childrearing process
If you care about your parents’ happiness a lot, you might have kids for that reason. However, that should not be the only reason you have a child.
Remember that even if your parents say they will help you raise the kid, they can’t be there all the time. The child will be your responsibility primarily, and appeasing your parents should not be your only reason for trying to get pregnant.
You and Your Partner Don’t Feel Complete
Maybe you have a spouse or partner. You love each other very much, but you feel like something is missing. The two of you should:
- Talk about whether the time is right for kids
- Discuss whether you want to wait or have them right away
You and your partner might want kids, but you should try to get pregnant when it makes the most sense for you. If you’re going to college, starting a new job, or you feel like you don’t have enough money yet, you may want to put it off for a while.
At the same time, you must also acknowledge that you have certain fertile years, and when you’re out of that age group, it won’t be as easy. Time should not be the only deciding factor, but you have to think about it.
You Feel Like You Want a Part of Yourself to Live On
We’re all mortal, and you might want to leave a legacy behind. Children do not have to be that legacy. You might write books, create art, or do something else people will remember and appreciate when you’re gone.
However, children are the most conventional way to leave a part of yourself on this earth. When you give birth to them, you pass along your genes. You can also teach them everything you have learned, so they carry on your values and beliefs.
A child is a part of yourself. You made them, along with a partner, and they are your living legacy. Many women want to become mothers for that reason.
You Want Someone to Care for You When You’re Older
It’s also true that if you decide not to have children, that’s fine, but then they won’t be there to care for you as you age. If you have a spouse or partner, you can care for each other, but if you’re the same age, one of you will presumably die before the other.
If that happens, and you’re alone in your old age, you’ll probably be stuck having strangers take care of you. You can’t move into a son or daughter’s house and have them watch over you if you have health problems later in life.
When you have kids, ideally, they will be there for you when you’re no longer young and strong. Without that, you’ll have to look at other alternatives someday.
You might think about all these reasons to have kids, or others. No two women’s motivations are quite alike, but you should certainly at least consider the possibility while you can.
