I’ve heard all the typical statements…

You’ll change your mind.

I’m almost 32 years old. If I haven’t changed my mind by now, I don’t see it happening any time soon.

Heck..the older I get, the more set in my ways I become. I had a hard enough time transitioning when my husband finally moved here. Imagine how nutty I’d be if there was no such thing as order in my life anymore.

Once you live with your husband, you guys will see that kids are missing.

Y’all, the only thing missing since my husband got here is our clothing (Sorry dad)!

We are enjoying FINALLY being a normal couple.

We are learning how to live with each other for the first time and figuring out which quirks we can adjust to and which ones need to be adjusted.

We are exploring my city and I’m getting to introduce him to all the things I love about growing up on the beach. We are planning trips together and planning nights out.

But what we aren’t planning is children.

Oh, just wait ’til you’re around a new baby, you’ll get the fever.

In just over a month I’m traveling to visit my best friend. She is due any day now with her first baby. I cannot wait to get to cuddle this little girl.

But I also know that there is an expiration date on my vacation and I will come home and get to go back to my child-free environment.

It’s the same way when I visit any friend that has a new baby. I am happy to hold them. Let them fall asleep on my chest. Feed them. Baby sit for parents who DESPERATELY need just 15 mins to take a shower alone.

But as soon as there are tears, blow outs, or temper tantrums I am relieved that I get to walk away.

I seem to have been given the vaccine to baby fever.

But don’t you want to leave your mark on the world?

I’m pretty sure I can accomplish that without having kids.

I was a substitute teacher for 4 years prior to the Navy. I have run into kids I taught back then and they tell me that they wish I was still teaching, because they liked how I explained things.

That IS leaving a mark.

I am a Sailor. Not only that, I’m a female Sailor in a time where that is still a minority. I’m always going to be able to say I was in the Navy and that I served my country.

I’m pretty sure that’s leaving a mark too.

And then there was the conversation with my mother a few years ago…

“I’m ready now.” -mom
“Great…for what?” -me
“To have grandkids!” -mom

So glad to know she was ready….we sure as heck aren’t!

I think my biggest problem with people reacting the way they do when they find out we don’t have and don’t want children, is that all these outside people feel as though something will always be missing from our lives if we don’t have kids.

Here’s the thing, I’m not too ashamed to admit that I like it this way.

I get to be selfish with my husband.

I get to be the center of his world and he is the center of mine. We like it that way.

We love being able to pursue our passions without feeling guilty.

We love being able to pick up and take off for a weekend whenever we can.

We like our life just how it is and there is nothing wrong with that. We don’t feel like anything is missing.

We don’t feel like we AREN’T a complete family. We are.

Just him and me.

Our family might be a permanent family of two, but it’s still a family.