Your Uterus, My Uterus, Everybody's Uterus: A Word Vomit

The biggest problem is the uterus; it's something that's been bugging me ever since I became aware of my gender. I first got my period when I was around 13 years old, and since then, people around me have been joking about how I can get pregnant now and that I should be weary of men now that I have the ability to create a human being. Point taken. What sets us apart from men is that we can bear a child, and that's precisely why I also hate being a woman.

I loved playing with my dolls when I was a kid. I'd love playing house with my dolls, and borrow my uncles' toys so I can pretend that my dolls are married to them. So many people have told me that having children is something that a woman should do, and I based my life thinking that I would. But! It did not come as a shock at all when I decided that I don't want children of my own. Well, it didn't come as a shock to me, but it sure did to my family and friends. 

It was not until year 2015 when I realized that it was fine to have a choice to not have children. 2015! You would have thought we as a society have evolved in our thinking of current events, or at least of women's rights to have a decision. Being brainwashed (yes I am using this word) that my uterus will be a waste to not use, I always thought somehow I'll be like how my friends ended up too--happily wed with a child along the way. 

Being single for more than a decade now, I have come to love spending time by myself, and it may have influenced my choice as well. My life plan is to travel to as many countries as my feet will take me, and come home to a 1-bedroom unit where I can raise my 5 dogs. 

It still annoys me that the people in my life have judged me for my own personal choices. "You will still change your mind", "You'll see, you're gonna have more children than me", and "Don't say it in finality!" But why? I want to ask why is it important for women to have children? Do I not have a say in what I want to do with my own body? I am so sure that women who have made the same decision as I did, have also faced these kind of questions. 

I wonder why they're grilling my choice in not adding another person in this country when I just do not want to add in the overpopulation of the Philippines. Maybe I should be given a medal! 

The point of this word vomit post is, if you don't want to have children, it's perfectly fine to have that choice. It's gonna be a long and hard process, and I'm still personally going through it and dealing with so much bullshit from the society who thinks they have a say with what I want to do with my own body. Now, if you ask me what if I meet the "right person" and I decide to settle down? Sure, not ruling out that possibility, anything can happen. As of now, I have no intentions to change my mind in child bearing, but as a person who wants to live her life without any regrets, I have also explored the option of freezing my eggs. It's not for any societal or filial issue, it's more of a "me" issue. I know for a fact that I do not want children right now, but what if my future self changes her mind? I once thought I wanted to settle down when I reach my mid-20s, but that fell through lol. I am a person who lives each day without any regrets (sometimes this leads to more trouble, but I'll talk about that some other time), and I having the thought that I at least have an option sounds perfect to me.

With this said, ladies, do not be afraid to make a choice. It is your body, not your parents (contrary to popular belief, you do not owe them anything as it wasn't your choice to be born!), not the society's, but YOURS. Whatever you choose to do with your body, it is yours alone, because let's be real here, you're gonna be the one dealing with the consequences of your choices, not them. So explore life and don't let anybody cage you to what you don't want to do.