“Maybe you’re pregnant”

Everyone around me seems to be pregnant or new parents. I kind of feel left out. :( No, I don't want a baby right now. I'm just saying...

Why do so many women get pregnant in their early 20's? It drives me nuts. I know it's prime baby-making age. I understand not wanting to be 60 when your children graduate, but come on! Getting married does not mean you need to have a baby right away. Being recently married, I feel like it is almost expected of me! I was complaining about feeling sick yesterday at work, and my co-worker immediately says "Maybe you're pregnant." Really? That's the only solution you can come up with? And that's not the first time someone has suggested that. I am not pregnant!

For the record, we do not plan on having a baby until our late 20's if at all. We are perfectly content with just the two of us. I mean, we're still trying to decide what we want to be when we grow up. We're just starting to figure out how to save money! We can't afford a baby. Baby things are expensive. I've been staring at my aunt's baby registry for a few days now just trying to decide what I want to get her! I want something useful, but also something that will last more than a few months. I'm becoming more and more practical every day. I used to love baby clothes. I still think they are cute, but $15 is nuts for something he/she MIGHT wear once and not even for a full day depending on how messy and how fast the baby grows.

Steven and I are perfectly happy just being us. While he drives me nuts and I sometimes want to divorce him (just kidding, by the way), I love coming home and just being able to cuddle in front of the tv. I don't have to worry about anything or anyone else. I think more couples should wait a few years before popping out babies, especially those living together for the first time after the wedding. You learn so much about the other person once you live together. You need to learn to co-habitate before adding the stress of a newborn and different parenting styles.

Of course, some people know when they are ready to be parents, but the ones who think they need to rush into having a baby, or think a baby will make everything perfect are the ones that need to take a step back. Look at the big picture. When you're ready, you're ready. Don't force it. Having a baby won't fix anything.