I don& #39;t want to have children for many reason. One of them is that I had a lot of mothers in my life. I endured a lot of mothering. So did they. I don& #39;t want to do what they did. I know there are many ways to mother, but I don& #39;t care for any of them or to create my own.

Will all the mothering I& #39;ve had, decades of it from women with decades of experience in life, womanhood, and mothering, and I am still here mothering myself. And they are still mothering me. It never ends. I don& #39;t want to do more things that never end. I just want to do me.

Mothering is a lot of work. It has to be exhausting to love so much, in a way that is not mere sentiment, but consistent work. I am too selfish for that, or too taken in by other acts of service. Whatever it is, this is the right choice. Aunt, yes. Godmother, yes. Not mother.

I& #39;ve been fortunate to suffer no pressure from anyone in my life to produce children. It wouldn& #39;t go well for any challengers, but I am glad no one bothers. No one cares. They want me to be happy, fulfilled, and free. They understand my desire for freedom that is above all else.