Yesterday morning I went to Sweetie Boy’s party at school. I am so glad I went, even though – for whatever reason – I was kind of dreading it. It was drizzling and rainy and just gross out so I wasn’t thrilled to drive in it. Anyway, it was fun – I got to read to some of the kids while a couple of the other groups finished up their activities. They are all so cute!
I helped the baby boy but a string on his ornament and use the glittery pens (got glitter ALL over me) and then I even helped two of the cutest little girls EVER at the same table – both blonde and both adorable.
I tend to shy away from talking to other parents; I’d rather hang out with the kids (which is TOTALLY weird because I’m really not a kid person). It’s not that I’m anti-social (okay, a little), but it’s just that I’ve found I get asked questions I really don’t want to answer. Example. As I was standing with one of the other moms, she asked me where I worked. Small talk. Okay, I’m cool with that. So I told her where I worked and what kind of company it was and what I did for them.
Then I get this question: “So is he your youngest or your oldest?†Immediately assuming I have more than one.
“He’s the only,†I said.
“Oh. Are you planning to have more?â€
Okay, maybe it’s just me – and my current state of mind – but I was completely offended by this question. Why is it NOT okay to have just one child? But wait – there’s more.
“No,†I said. “I’m done having kids.â€
“Well,†she said, a big hopeful grin on her face, “accidents DO happen you know! I said the same thing and then I got my second daughter.â€
:censored:
“Well, his dad and I are divorced so I doubt that will happen.â€
And PS he’s “fixedâ€. Not that THAT’S any of her business either…
Why did I feel as though I needed to explain that to her? It totally ticked me off after I thought about it all damn day and realized how incredibly RUDE that was. BUT WAIT – there’s more.
So then she smiles that pathetic smile. “Well, I’m sure you’ll get married again some day.â€
I waited for her to pat me sympathetically on the shoulder. As if being single is completely tragic.
I SO wanted to say, “Men are bastards. I want no part of that.†But instead, I said, “No, I’m done.†And then I walked away.
I mean, really. Just because YOU want to be married and have a passel of kids, doesn’t me I do. And I don’t mean to be offensive to ANYONE who is happily married with kids. The family unit is great – I came from a big family (I have three siblings) with parents who were married 40 plus years. I have NOTHING against it. It’s just not for me. Maybe not now. Maybe not ever. And I really don’t appreciate women looking at me as though my life is a tragedy because I’m single and a mom of one.
I’m happily single. I don’t miss the ex. Not a day has gone by I’ve missed the ex. OF COURSE I miss my kid. I miss him every second he’s not with me and wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if he’s okay. And if it’s thundering outside in the middle of the night, I worry about him. I wonder if he’s scared and if he’s being comforted. I wonder if he got to school okay and if he happy and having a good day.
Does that mean I want more kids? No. Does that mean I need to get married just to fill a void that’s the size of a Black Hole? No.
I’m happy being single. I’m independent and capable. I can take care of myself. I don’t NEED a man to help me live my life or “complete†me or any of that horseshit. What I do need, however, is my son, friends who love me unconditionally, a home to call my own, a job that gives me satisfaction, and a man who understands how important my independence is.
Hm. It seems I already have that.
There are some women out there who feel that if you aren’t married with kids you have something “wrong” with you. You will encounter these women the rest of your life. An annoying, but true fact. They don’t see any other alternatives, and they don’t understand how someone could want what you want. It’s a mental closed-mindedness that some women just have. There really isn’t any other explanation. And yes, they really do think anyone different needs to be like them. :wall:
Hopefully you won’t encounter more women like that, but in reality, you will. They’re a dime a dozen. You’ll meet them at any and every school function. I honestly think they mean no harm, they just can’t comprehend that someone can have happiness and NOT be married, or only have one child. It’s beyond their powers of reasoning.
:talktohand: Yeah, I know.
You know what I learned?
Those who go on and on about the need to be married and pretend it’s all light and joy are the ones in the most twisted marriages and the ones whose spouses are cheating on them big time and they just look the other way.
You’re better off.
I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished this year.
You totally shoulda jacked that bitch up.
Agree with Devon.
When it’s right to be with someone, get married or whatever, it just feels right. I had been single for a couple of years (after breaking up with the EX-moron I was with). I figured being single was A MILLION TIMES better than being in some bad meaningless abusive relationship. And when you’re single, others can be mean with nothing on their minds other than, “Oh are you still single?, “Are you with someone now?”, “So aren’t you getting married soon? You know girls your age are married with children!”. And I was 24 and 25 years at the time (I’m 26 now). I’d say, “Yeah but most of them are miserable in their marriages or struggling to make it work.”
Some people don’t get your independence and your own quest or definition of happiness.:wtf:
Now, thank God I’m happily married to someone who understands and appreciates me.
And don’t explain yourself to others :censored:. Tell that woman to mind her own $@#@ing business.
I’ve turned a bit of anti-social myself over the years, but I still enjoy the company of warm friends. Life.
Take care, Mik and be happy.:rock:
I’ve been single and (never married) but in a relationship that was not really bad – he wasn’t mean or abusive or anything – but we weren’t soulmates so it was very lonely. Much lonelier than being single has ever been. When people push marriage so hard on others, it makes me wonder, like Devon, what is missing in their own marriages.
Thanks, all. I’m a work-in-progress. And so far, I like all the new things happening. :thumbsup: