Motherhood

I don't have children and I don't intend to have any in the near future. I can't afford to raise one and I don't think I have the time to take care of one. But I have to admit, the motherhood instinct is already kicking in.

20-30 years ago, a girl my age would already probably be married and have 3 kids. But with today's fast-paced lifestyle and greater range of opportunities available to women, more and more girls are choosing to defer marriage for the sake of their career. A few years ago, I made my choice and I became totally obsessed with my career goals. I never noticed that I was missing out on something. That was until I turned 25.

Suddenly, I find myself staring at babies in the mall, wondering what it would be like to have one of those. These days, I ask myself what if I actually took that marriage proposal 3 years ago seriously and decided to spend the rest of my life with just one person? There are times when I wonder what if I opted for the simple life in the suburbs, instead of fighting it out in the dog-eat-dog environment of the corporate setting?

Don't get me wrong. I don't have any regrets about my life so far. What really triggered this whole train of questions is that I noticed that I seem to be really attached to my 3 pets. I worry about them constantly. I bring them to the vet for their check-ups, vaccinations and medical treatments. I often find myself buying toys for them on impulse. I worry about their diet and always check if they are healthy. I hug them all the time and run around the house chasing them because I know their favorite games. I bring one of them to the mall so we can walk in the park. Gosh, I even dream of buying them clothes they could wear. All of them have grown up to be the ultimate spoiled brats, but I have never loved them any less. Now imagine if they were human children instead of cats. What a scary thought!